title: Tuberculosis in sheltered homeless population of Rome: an integrated model of recruitment for risk management.
abstract: The authors show the results of an integrated model for risk management of tuberculosis in a sample of sheltered homeless in Rome. Tuberculin skin test (TST) was used for evaluating the prevalence of latent infection (LTBI). In TST positives, expectorate was collected and chest X-ray was achieved. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate determinants of infection. Out of 288 recruited subjects, 259 returned for the TST reading; 45.56% were positive and referred to a specialized center; 70 accessed the health facility and completed the clinical pathway. The risk factors associated to LTBI were male gender (OR = 3.72), age over 60 years (OR = 3.59), immigrant status (OR = 3.73), and obesity (OR = 2.19). This approach, based on an integrated social network, guarantees high adherence to screening (89.93%), allowing patients testing positive for latent tuberculosis infection to be diagnosed and rapidly referred to a specialized center.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Laurenti
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quaranta
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Torre
authors.forename: Antonio G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Cairo
authors.forename: Pierangela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nardella
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Delogu
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fadda
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pirronti
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geraci
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pelargonio
authors.forename: Francesco N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Lauria
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goletti
authors.forename: Gualtiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ricciardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015995:Prevalence; D012308:Risk Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012384:Rome / Q000453:epidemiology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*