American Journal of Infection Control
Volume 39, Issue 6, 2011, Pages 495-499

Tuberculosis screening in migrant reception centers: Results of a 2009 Italian survey (Article)

Tafuri S.* , Martinelli D. , Melpignano L. , De Palma M. , Quarto M. , Prato R. , Germinario C.
  • a Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Hygiene, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
  • b Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Hygiene, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
  • c Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Hygiene, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
  • d Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Hygiene, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
  • e Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Hygiene, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
  • f Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Hygiene, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
  • g Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Hygiene, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a social disease that is common in immigrants who are forced to live in difficult circumstances. In Italy, the guidelines for preventing TB include X-ray screening and application of the Mantoux test for migrants from high-TB-endemic countries as soon as possible after admission to Italy. This article describes a field survey conducted in the reception center for asylum seekers in Bari Palese in southern Italy following the death of a center resident from pulmonary TB. Methods: A Mantoux screening test, followed by chest X-ray, was carried out in March 2009 on 982 immigrants, representing 97.5% of the residents of the center. Results: A positive Mantoux test result was seen in 60.7% of the residents screened. The chest X-rays were performed on 92.9% of cuti-positive patients and on cuti-negative patients who were recent contacts of the deceased TB case and/or with symptoms suspicious for TB. Eight residents were diagnosed with active TB (0.8% of residents), and 117 residents (11.9%) had TB sequelae. In our survey, the Mantoux test demonstrated 88% sensitivity, 17% specificity, and a positive predictive value of 1% for active TB. Conclusion: The survey results suggest that residents in asylum centers are a special type of immigrant. Specific risk factors, such as overcrowding, may expose these residents to a greater risk for infectious diseases. Copyright © 2011 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Mantoux test Asylum seekers assessment of screening test screening for latent tuberculosis

Index Keywords

immigrant refugee mass screening disease activity human middle aged diagnostic accuracy screening test groups by age Young Adult school child Humans lung tuberculosis Adolescent male preschool child female tuberculosis Infant Risk Factors environmental exposure Child, Preschool newborn sensitivity and specificity Article major clinical study tuberculin test adult infection risk Predictive Value of Tests thorax radiography endemic disease Italy Transients and Migrants cause of death Crowding Radiography, Thoracic Child health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79960943279&doi=10.1016%2fj.ajic.2010.10.013&partnerID=40&md5=ed1c279f771a49dc987c558e83b0849d
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2010.10.013
ISSN: 01966553
Cited by: 21
Original Language: English