title: Effectiveness of reporting on latent tuberculous infection in Massachusetts, 2006-2008.
abstract: Massachusetts is one of five states that mandate the reporting of latent tuberculous infection (LTBI). We assessed 2006-2008 Massachusetts surveillance data for LTBI to describe the system and examine the characteristics of persons with LTBI. Over 3 years, 15 301 LTBI cases were reported (4742-5398/year). Among those with known country of birth (n = 11 655), 9983 (85.7%) were foreign-born. Substantial under-ascertainment and/or under-reporting appear likely; mandatory reporting does not appear sufficient for LTBI detection. Enhanced targeted testing, active LTBI surveillance, or laboratory-based surveillance may be needed to eliminate tuberculosis disease in the United States.
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts ; Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Hochberg
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Kubiak
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tibbs
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Elder
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharnprapai
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Etkind
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Horsburgh
keywords: epidemiology; interferon-gamma release test; surveillance; tuberculin test