Joanna Nederby Öhd1, Knut Lönnroth2, Ibrahim Abubakar3, Robert W Aldridge4, Connie Erkens5, Jerker Jonsson6, Valentina Marchese7, Alberto Matteelli7, Dee Menezes4, Dominik Zenner3, Maria-Pia Hergens8. 1. Department of Public Health Science, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm County Council, Smittskydd Stockholm, Box 17533, 118 91 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: joanna.nederby-ohd@sll.se. 2. Department of Public Health Science, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. 3. Institute for Global Health, University College London, 3rd floor, Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK. 4. Public Health Data Science, Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, 222 Euston Road, London NW1 1DA, UK. 5. KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, Benoordenhoutseweg 46, 2596 BC Den Haag, the Netherlands. 6. Public Health Agency, 171 82 Solna, Sweden. 7. Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre for TB/HIV and TB Elimination, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, BS, Italy. 8. Department of Public Health Science, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm County Council, Smittskydd Stockholm, Box 17533, 118 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Screening for active and latent TB among migrants in low TB incidence countries may constitute an important contribution to TB elimination. E-DETECT TB, a European multi-county collaboration, aims to address the present lack of evidence on effectiveness of migrant TB screening by collating data in an international database and perform cross-country pooled and comparative analyses of screening coverage, results and linkage to care. METHOD: A database was established using migrant TB screening data from participating countries' national screening programs, national screening pilots and local research projects. All partner countries contributed to a common agreed protocol with standardized variables, pooling available numerator and denominator screening data from participating countries and sites. RESULTS: All collaborating members drafted and agreed upon a data sharing accord as well as a protocol that clearly defined responsibilities and data governance principles. The database has been created and data transfer is ongoing. CONCLUSION: By persistence and focus the project has overcome considerable administrative, practical and legal challenges. This international collaboration provides greater power of analysis of harmonized data and thereby a unique opportunity to contribute migrant TB screening evidence. E-DETECT TB has started to invite other countries to contribute data to the database.
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Screening for active and latent TB among migrants in low TB incidence countries may constitute an important contribution to TB elimination. E-DETECT TB, a European multi-county collaboration, aims to address the present lack of evidence on effectiveness of migrant TB screening by collating data in an international database and perform cross-country pooled and comparative analyses of screening coverage, results and linkage to care. METHOD: A database was established using migrant TB screening data from participating countries' national screening programs, national screening pilots and local research projects. All partner countries contributed to a common agreed protocol with standardized variables, pooling available numerator and denominator screening data from participating countries and sites. RESULTS: All collaborating members drafted and agreed upon a data sharing accord as well as a protocol that clearly defined responsibilities and data governance principles. The database has been created and data transfer is ongoing. CONCLUSION: By persistence and focus the project has overcome considerable administrative, practical and legal challenges. This international collaboration provides greater power of analysis of harmonized data and thereby a unique opportunity to contribute migrant TB screening evidence. E-DETECT TB has started to invite other countries to contribute data to the database.