Emerging Infectious Diseases
Volume 14, Issue 11, 2008, Pages 1715-1721

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis outbreak among US-bound Hmong refugees, Thailand, 2005 (Article) (Open Access)

Oeltmann J.E. , Varma J.K. , Ortega L. , Liu Y. , O'Rourke T. , Cano M. , Harrington T. , Toney S. , Jones W. , Karuchit S. , Diem L. , Rienthong D. , Tappero J.W. , Ijaz K. , Maloney S.A.
  • a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mailstop E10, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States
  • b Thailand Ministry of Public Health-US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Collaboration, Bangkok, Thailand
  • c Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • d Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • e International Organization for Migration, Bangkok, Thailand
  • f Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • g Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • h Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • i International Organization for Migration, Bangkok, Thailand
  • j Thailand Ministry of Public Health-US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Collaboration, Bangkok, Thailand
  • k Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • l Thailand Ministry of Public Health, Bangkok, Thailand
  • m Thailand Ministry of Public Health-US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Collaboration, Bangkok, Thailand
  • n Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • o Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States

Abstract

In January 2005, tuberculosis (TB), including multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB), was reported among Hmong refugees who were living in or had recently immigrated to the United States from a camp in Thailand. We investigated TB and drug resistance, enhanced TB screenings, and expanded treatment capacity in the camp. In February 2005, 272 patients with TB (24 MDR TB) remained in the camp. Among 17 MDR TB patients interviewed, 13 were found to be linked socially. Of 23 MDR TB isolates genotyped, 20 were similar according to 3 molecular typing methods. Before enhanced screening was implemented, 46 TB cases (6 MDR TB) were diagnosed in the United States among 9,455 resettled refugees. After enhanced screening had begun, only 4 TB cases (1 MDR TB), were found among 5,705 resettled refugees. An MDR TB outbreak among US-bound refugees led to importation of disease; enhanced pre-immigration TB screening and treatment decreased subsequent importation.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

genotype Bacterial Typing Techniques refugee mass screening Thailand human Refugees controlled study Mycobacterium tuberculosis Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant Aged screening Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial United States DNA, Bacterial Humans Sputum Adolescent Antitubercular Agents male female tuberculosis Disease Outbreaks Article epidemic streptomycin multidrug resistance tuberculin test major clinical study adult molecular typing ethambutol pyrazinamide Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-55549134675&doi=10.3201%2feid1411.071629&partnerID=40&md5=11cf72d51157dfbcb79cfdf3726c0aca
DOI: 10.3201/eid1411.071629
ISSN: 10806040
Cited by: 43
Original Language: English