Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine
Volume 5, Issue 4, 2011, Pages 483-486

Screening of immigrants in the UK for latent tuberculosis (Article)

McNerney R.* , Ferrara G. , O'Grady J. , Maeurer M. , Zumla A.
  • a Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom
  • b Section of Respiratory Diseases, S Maria Hospital, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy, Department of Infection, University College London Medical School, London, United Kingdom
  • c Department of Infection, University College London Medical School, London, United Kingdom
  • d Department of Infection, University College London Medical School, London, United Kingdom
  • e Laboratory Medicine and Karolinska Hospital, MTC, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious public health problem in the UK, and detection and prophylactic treatment of latent infection offers improved control. A recent study advocates the use of IFN-γ release assays to detect latent TB infection in immigrants to the UK under 35 years of age and suggests that such a program would be most cost effective if targeted at new entrants from high burden countries. We discuss these findings in the light of recently updated UK and European guidelines. We conclude that while action to contain TB in the UK is urgently needed, further evidence is required to assess the impact and cost-effectiveness of screening algorithms for latent infection. © 2011 Expert Reviews Ltd.

Author Keywords

Screening Cost-effectiveness tuberculosis Latent tuberculosis IFN-g release assay

Index Keywords

Pakistan China immigrant classification algorithm India human clinical assessment screening test groups by age screening South Africa health care cost latent tuberculosis gamma interferon Article United Kingdom tuberculosis control public health problem practice guideline immunoassay cytokine release cost effectiveness analysis
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-80052623343&doi=10.1586%2fers.11.45&partnerID=40&md5=fb8ccb53870c2282ffafcb012482aa78
DOI: 10.1586/ers.11.45
ISSN: 17476348
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English