POST-ARRIVAL SCREENING AND TREATMENT OF FOREIGN-BORN INDIVIDUALS FOR TUBERCULOSIS AND LATENT TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION

tuberculosis;latent tuberculosis infection;refugees;foreign-born;not listed

Nuzzo, Jennifer BronwynHenderson, Donald A. ;

Johns Hopkins University

关键词: tuberculosis;    latent tuberculosis infection;    refugees;    foreign-born;    not listed;   

Others  :  https://jscholarship.library.jhu.edu/bitstream/handle/1774.2/39282/NUZZO-DISSERTATION-2014.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

瑞士|英语

来源: JOHNS HOPKINS DSpace Repository

【 摘 要 】

Though the total number of tuberculosis (TB) cases reported in the United States (US) is decreasing, persistently high incidence among foreign-born individuals has slowed progress towards national TB elimination.Reducing the overall incidence of TB the US will require enhanced diagnosis and treatment of active TB among the foreign-born, as well as targeting the pool of latently infected individuals who represent an important source of future TB cases.This analysis examines three important aspects of controlling TB in foreign-born individuals. The first study evaluates of efforts by Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) to screen and treat refugees, non-refugee foreign-born individuals and other patient groups for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and describes factors associated with patient compliance with LTBI evaluation. The second study evaluates post-arrival screening and treatment of high-risk (Class B) immigrants referred to BCHD and assesses whether recent efforts to conduct additional sputa testing on all Class B immigrants resulted in enhanced TB case finding.The third study reviews the importance of LTBI testing and treatment of the foreign-born, and examines ways to equip health departments to complete this important pillar of the US strategy for TB elimination.The results of these studies suggest that local health department efforts to screen and treat foreign-born individuals for tuberculosis and LTBI can be effective in reducing the overall burden of illness within the community.However, persistent resource limitations and other factors can reduce the effectiveness of these programs.