Assessment of postarrival tuberculosis examinations among immigrants and refugees screened overseas.
BACKGROUND
Immigrants and refugees screened overseas and found to have Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (TB arrivers) are either treated fortuberculosis (TB) or, if disease is not found these arrivers are given a TB classification of latent TB infection (LTBI) and are referred for reexamination after arriving in the United States.


METHODS
A retrospective cohort analysis was performed of TB arrivers in Connecticut to determine the proportion of TB arrivers documentedwith their postarrival domestic medical examination and to determine the proportion of TB arriverswho started and completed LTBI treatment.


RESULTS
Of 184TB arrivers, 109 (59%) were evaluated for TB after arrival and four (4%) were diagnosed withTB. Of 105 personswith LTBI,49 (47%) started treatment, and of those 15(30%) completedtreatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of TB cases in Connecticut are among foreign-born individuals. Improving TB control overseas is a crucial step in the reduction of TB in the United States. Improvements are still needed to ensure timely, postarrival medical examinations that ensure treatment for high-risk persons with LTBI to reduce TB in Connecticut's foreign-born populations.
Connecticut Department of Public Health, Hartford, CT, USA. paul.gacek@ct.gov
Paul
P
Gacek
Lynn
L
Sosa
Mark N
MN
Lobato
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012036:Refugees; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult