BACKGROUND: Minnesota (MN) is home to one of the highest number of refugees in the United States. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of latent and active tuberculosis (TB) infection in primary refugee arrivals to MN. Secondary objectives were to determine the association of TB infection with gender, age, and ethnicity of the refugees. METHODS: A retrospective study of primary refugee arrivals to MN between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2001, was conducted. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association of TB infection with gender, age, and ethnicity. RESULTS: Of the 9,842 refugees who had Mantoux test results, 4,990 (50.7%) had a positive test. A positive test was more common in men [odds ratio (OR) = 1.6; p < 0.0001], in Africans (OR = 1.6, p = <0.0001), and increased with 10-year age intervals (OR = 1.4; p < 0.0001). A total of 116 (0.8%) refugees received treatment for active TB. Active TB was more common in men (OR = 1.7; p = 0.006), African ethnicity (OR = 4.3; p < 0.0001), and increased with 10-year age intervals (OR = 1.1; p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Screening and treatment for latent and active TB should be actively managed among refugees resettling in the United States, as this is common and can have significant public health implications.
BACKGROUND: Minnesota (MN) is home to one of the highest number of refugees in the United States. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of latent and active tuberculosis (TB) infection in primary refugee arrivals to MN. Secondary objectives were to determine the association of TB infection with gender, age, and ethnicity of the refugees. METHODS: A retrospective study of primary refugee arrivals to MN between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2001, was conducted. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association of TB infection with gender, age, and ethnicity. RESULTS: Of the 9,842 refugees who had Mantoux test results, 4,990 (50.7%) had a positive test. A positive test was more common in men [odds ratio (OR) = 1.6; p < 0.0001], in Africans (OR = 1.6, p = <0.0001), and increased with 10-year age intervals (OR = 1.4; p < 0.0001). A total of 116 (0.8%) refugees received treatment for active TB. Active TB was more common in men (OR = 1.7; p = 0.006), African ethnicity (OR = 4.3; p < 0.0001), and increased with 10-year age intervals (OR = 1.1; p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Screening and treatment for latent and active TB should be actively managed among refugees resettling in the United States, as this is common and can have significant public health implications.
Authors: Jonathon R Campbell; Wenjia Chen; James Johnston; Victoria Cook; Kevin Elwood; Jane Krot; Fawziah Marra Journal: Mol Diagn Ther Date: 2015-04 Impact factor: 4.074
Authors: Susanna E Winston; Brian T Montague; Michael J Lopez; Allison Delong; Chloe Lemarchand; Armando Bedoya; Fizza S Gillani; Curt G Beckwith Journal: J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care Date: 2012-09-28
Authors: La'Marcus T Wingate; Margaret S Coleman; Christopher de la Motte Hurst; Marie Semple; Weigong Zhou; Martin S Cetron; John A Painter Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2015-12-01 Impact factor: 3.295