STUDY OBJECTIVE: It is estimated that the prevalence rate of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) for the United States general population is less than 5%. The prevalence of LTBI among Connecticut migrant workers has not been reported. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of a positive tuberculin skin test (TST), a potential measure of LTBI in migrant workers, at one Connecticut farm. METHODS: A two-step standardized TST was performed on farmworkers recruited in a migrant clinic setting. Those with negative results on the first-step were offered the second. Workers with positive results were referred to community health centers for assessment and examined by a physician investigator. RESULTS: Seventy-nine male workers were recruited from a population of approximately 200. Of these, 57 consented to the first-step TST, and 26% tested positive. Over 96% of the 57 tested workers were from Mexico. None had symptoms or signs of active tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that a high percentage of asymptomatic Connecticut Latino migrant farmworkers have LTBI. This finding has public health implications for TB control strategies in the state.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: It is estimated that the prevalence rate of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) for the United States general population is less than 5%. The prevalence of LTBI among Connecticut migrant workers has not been reported. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of a positive tuberculin skin test (TST), a potential measure of LTBI in migrant workers, at one Connecticut farm. METHODS: A two-step standardized TST was performed on farmworkers recruited in a migrant clinic setting. Those with negative results on the first-step were offered the second. Workers with positive results were referred to community health centers for assessment and examined by a physician investigator. RESULTS: Seventy-nine male workers were recruited from a population of approximately 200. Of these, 57 consented to the first-step TST, and 26% tested positive. Over 96% of the 57 tested workers were from Mexico. None had symptoms or signs of active tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that a high percentage of asymptomatic Connecticut Latino migrant farmworkers have LTBI. This finding has public health implications for TB control strategies in the state.
Authors: Mohsen Malekinejad; Andrea Parriott; Amanda P Viitanen; Hacsi Horvath; Suzanne M Marks; James G Kahn Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-08-07 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Pedro Torres-Gonzalez; Orbelin Soberanis-Ramos; Areli Martinez-Gamboa; Barbara Chavez-Mazari; Ma Teresa Barrios-Herrera; Martha Torres-Rojas; Luis Pablo Cruz-Hervert; Lourdes Garcia-Garcia; Mahavir Singh; Adrian Gonzalez-Aguirre; Alfredo Ponce de Leon-Garduño; José Sifuentes-Osornio; Miriam Bobadilla-Del-Valle Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2013-04-25