Contact tracing using DNA fingerprinting in an asylum seeker with pulmonary tuberculosis.
BACKGROUND
The diagnosis of tuberculosis in asylum seekers is followed by contact tracing, which is routinely performed by the Municipal Health Service (MHS). We investigated cases of tuberculosis whose symptoms became apparent after closure of regular contact tracing.


METHODS
Analysis of data from the DNA Fingerprinting Surveillance Project on all Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates and contact tracing instances.


RESULTS
Four additional cases of tuberculosis were detected, caused by bacteria of identical DNA fingerprints. No further contacts with a bacteriologically confirmed form of tuberculosis were found around these four new patients.


CONCLUSIONS
DNA fingerprinting contributed to tracing instances of late manifestations of tuberculosis transmission.
van Loenhout-Rooyacke
J H
JH
Municipal Health Service (GGD Regio Nijmegen), The Netherlands. jloenhout@GGD-Nijmegen.nl
Sebek
M M G G
MM
Verbeek
A L M
AL
D016358:Contact Tracing; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics*; D012036:Refugees; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*