Sally Hargreaves1, Laura B Nellums2, Catherine Johnson3, Jacob Goldberg3, Panagiotis Pantelidis4, Asif Rahman4, Jon S Friedland FMedSci5. 1. Institute for Infection & Immunity, St. George's, University of London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: s.hargreaves@sgul.ac.uk. 2. Institute for Infection & Immunity, St. George's, University of London, United Kingdom; Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom. 3. Section of Infectious Diseases & Immunity, Imperial College London, United Kingdom. 4. Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom. 5. Institute for Infection & Immunity, St. George's, University of London, United Kingdom.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Screening for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in migrants is important for elimination of tuberculosis in low-incidence countries, alongside the need to detect blood-borne infections to align with new guidelines on migrant screening for multiple infections in European countries. However, feasibility needs to be better understood. METHODS: We did a feasibility study to test an innovative screening model offering combined testing for LTBI (QuantiFERON), HIV, hepatitis B/C in a UK emergency department, with two year follow-up. RESULTS: 96 economic migrants, asylum seekers and refugees from 43 countries were screened (46 [47.9%] women; mean age 35.2 years [SD 11.7; range 18-73]; mean time in the UK 4.8 years [SD 3.2; range 0-10]). 14 migrants (14.6%) tested positive for LTBI alongside HIV [1], hepatitis B [2], and hepatitis C [1] Of migrants with LTBI, 5 (35.7%) were successfully engaged in treatment. 74 (77.1%) migrants reported no previous screening since migrating to the UK. CONCLUSION: Multi-disease screening in this setting is feasible and merits being further tested in larger-scale studies. However, greater emphasis must be placed on ensuring successful treatment outcomes. We identified major gaps in current screening provision; most migrants had been offered no prior screening despite several years since migration, which holds relevance to policy and practice in the UK and other European countries.
BACKGROUND: Screening for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in migrants is important for elimination of tuberculosis in low-incidence countries, alongside the need to detect blood-borne infections to align with new guidelines on migrant screening for multiple infections in European countries. However, feasibility needs to be better understood. METHODS: We did a feasibility study to test an innovative screening model offering combined testing for LTBI (QuantiFERON), HIV, hepatitis B/C in a UK emergency department, with two year follow-up. RESULTS: 96 economic migrants, asylum seekers and refugees from 43 countries were screened (46 [47.9%] women; mean age 35.2 years [SD 11.7; range 18-73]; mean time in the UK 4.8 years [SD 3.2; range 0-10]). 14 migrants (14.6%) tested positive for LTBI alongside HIV [1], hepatitis B [2], and hepatitis C [1] Of migrants with LTBI, 5 (35.7%) were successfully engaged in treatment. 74 (77.1%) migrants reported no previous screening since migrating to the UK. CONCLUSION:Multi-disease screening in this setting is feasible and merits being further tested in larger-scale studies. However, greater emphasis must be placed on ensuring successful treatment outcomes. We identified major gaps in current screening provision; most migrants had been offered no prior screening despite several years since migration, which holds relevance to policy and practice in the UK and other European countries.
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