title: Treatment of latent tuberculosis in migrants to Victoria.
abstract: The proportion of eligible persons identified who are tested for latent tuberculosis (TB), offered treatment, and complete treatment are performance indicators in tuberculosis control. We report a retrospective database review of the Migrant Screening Clinic, Department of Respiratory and Sleep Disorders Medicine at Western Health Footscray Hospital during the years 1996-2006. Of 7,225 migrants aged less than 35 years, tuberculin skin testing (TST) was performed for 3,589 (49.7%), including 2,641 (65.6%) of 4,024 migrants under 35 years with an abnormal chest radiograph, and 2,297 (59.0%) of 3,893 migrants born in a high-burden country. Of 3,589 persons with both chest radiograph and TST results, 1,487 (41.4%) were referred for follow-up, including 81.3% of those with TST ≥10 mm. Outcome data were available for 1,047 persons considered for treatment of latent TB, of whom 12.5% did not attend an initial appointment, 21.6% attended and were not offered treatment, 65.9% attended and were offered treatment, and 41.7% completed treatment for latent TB. The Victorian program for treatment of latent TB in migrants has testing, treatment offer and treatment completions rates similar to other published studies. The impact on TB control is limited by the small proportion of migrants referred to this program.
authors.affiliation: Physician, Department of Respiratory and Sleep Disorders Medicine, Western Health, Footscray, Victoria.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.affiliation: Manager, Tuberculosis Control Program, Department of Health, Melbourne, Victoria.
authors.forename: Lynne K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents