Latent tuberculosis among Latino migrant farmworkers in Connecticut.
OBJECTIVE
It is estimated that the prevalence rate of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) for the United States general population is less than 5%. The prevalence of LTBI among Connecticut migrant workers has not been reported. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of a positive tuberculin skin test (TST), a potential measure of LTBI in migrant workers, at one Connecticut farm.


METHODS
A two-step standardized TST was performed on farmworkers recruited in a migrant clinic setting. Those with negative results on the first-step were offered the second. Workers with positive results were referred to community health centers for assessment and examined by a physician investigator.


RESULTS
Seventy-nine male workers were recruited from a population of approximately 200. Of these, 57 consented to the first-step TST, and 26% tested positive. Over 96% of the 57 tested workers were from Mexico. None had symptoms or signs of active tuberculosis.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that a high percentage of asymptomatic Connecticut Latino migrant farmworkers have LTBI. This finding has public health implications for TB control strategies in the state.
Trapé-Cardoso
Marcia
M
University of Connecticut Health Center and School of Medicine, Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA. trape@nso.uchc.edu
Subaran
Sharmila
S
Bracker
Anne
A
Sapiain
Eddie
E
Gould
Bruce
B