New Microbiologica
Volume 32, Issue 1, 2009, Pages 39-47

Tuberculosis and immigrants: A SIMIT (Italian society of infectious diseases) clinical, epidemiological multicentric research investigation (Article)

Scotto G.* , Fornabaio C. , Prato R. , Saracino A. , Tartaglia A. , Di Tullio R. , Carbonara S. , Angarano G.
  • a Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Foggia, Italy, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Foggia, Luigi Pinto Street, 1, 71100 Foggia, Italy
  • b Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Foggia, Italy
  • c Department of Public Health, University of Foggia, Italy
  • d Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Foggia, Italy, Committee on Migration of the Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases (SIMIT), Italy
  • e Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Foggia, Italy
  • f Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Foggia, Italy
  • g Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Italy
  • h Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Foggia, Italy

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the epidemiology and the diagnostic, clinical and therapeutic aspects of immi-grants affected by tuberculosis, hospitalized in 35 Italian Infectious Diseases Clinics during 2003. The data obtained showed that 300/2392 (12.5%) patients had active tuberculosis, 10.3% of whom had concomitant HIV infection. 53% of the patients were legal residents and were assisted by the National Health Service; 48.3% came from African regions. The mean length of residency in Italy at the time of hospitalization was 4 years. The main clinical forms were pulmonary (66%), lymph nodal (15.3%) and bone TB (5.3%). Drug resistance was demonstrated in 16% of cases with 9% cases of resistance to isoniazid, 8.2% to streptomycin, 5.1% to pyrazinamide, 2.6% to ethambutol, 2.6% to rifampicin; in 5.3% of cases a multiple resistance was demonstrated. A complete adherence to treatment was achieved in 213 patients. Statistical analysis disclosed a significant correlation between compliance with treatment and legal citizenship status. In conclusion, TB still represents an important disease among immigrants. Improved living conditions, both in countries of origin and in Italy, especially in the first few years, would certainly decrease the incidence of TB.

Author Keywords

Mycobacterium Immigration tuberculosis Drag resistance

Index Keywords

HIV Infections hospitalization multicenter study Human immunodeficiency virus infection clinical trial human middle aged statistics Mycobacterium AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections Mycobacterium tuberculosis Aged Human immunodeficiency virus Young Adult Humans classification tuberculostatic agent Antitubercular Agents Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants preschool child female tuberculosis Infant Child, Preschool isolation and purification Incidence Article AIDS related complex patient compliance adult migration microbiology antibiotic resistance Italy Drug Resistance, Bacterial drug effect pathophysiology Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-62149133015&partnerID=40&md5=64910b43d99a318e4d37327666934be1
ISSN: 11217138
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English