Factors associated with time to mandatory tuberculosis notification in the Somme department, France.
BACKGROUND
The associated factors contributing to a delay in mandatory tuberculosis notification in the Somme department, France, are not yet known. The objective of this study was to analyze these factors.


METHODS
All reported cases of tuberculosis between 2007 and 2011 were retrospectively included. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to investigate the factors associated with a short time to notification, i.e., ≤48h.


RESULTS
Between 2007 and 2011, a total of 175 cases of tuberculosis were reported to the Somme Regional Health Agency. Of the 145 (83.8%) cases of tuberculosis with at least one pulmonary location, 57.7% had a positive sputum smear. The mean time between the diagnosis of tuberculosis and mandatory notification was 6.1 days. It was 2.6 days for tuberculosis cases with a positive sputum smear versus 8.3 days for cases with a negative sputum smear; 2.0 days for severe cases and 6.3 days for simpler forms. In multivariate analysis, only a positive sputum smear was significantly associated with a short time to mandatory notification (OR 2.44; 95%CI 1.18-5.00; P=0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
The time to mandatory notification is longer than recommended. Better collaboration between the parties involved in tuberculosis control and their continuing medical education could reduce this delay in the Somme department.
Center for Prevention of Communicable Diseases, Amiens University Hospital, 80054 Amiens, France. Electronic address: y_poline@yahoo.fr.
P K
PK
Yanogo
Department of Infectious Diseases, Amiens University Hospital, 80054 Amiens, France.
J-L
JL
Schmit
Center for Prevention of Communicable Diseases, Amiens University Hospital, 80054 Amiens, France.
A-S
AS
Fresse
Respiratory Intensive Care Unit, Amiens University hospital, 80054 Amiens, France.
C
C
Andrejak
Department of Virology, Amiens University hospital, 80054 Amiens, France.
S
S
Castelain
Department of Infectious diseases Amiens Universitary Hospital, 80054 Amiens, France.
C
C
Adjodah
Epidemiology and Public Health Service, Cancer Registry of the Somme-Inserm EA-DGS EA 4666 Amiens University hospital, 80054 Amiens, France.
O
O
Ganry
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018563:Disease Notification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult
France; Prevention; Prévention; TB notifications; Tuberculoses; Tuberculosis