Latent Tuberculosis Infection Among Immigrant and Refugee Children Arriving in the United States: 2010

We examined post-immigration TB evaluation and therapy for children arriving with LTBI. We reviewed medical exam data from immigrant children with medical conditions and a ll refugee children arriving during 2010. Medical examination data were available for 67,334 children. Of these, 8231 (12 %) had LTBI pre-immigration; 5749 (70 %) were re-evaluated for TB post-immigration, and 64 % were retested by TST or IGRA. The pre-immigration LTBI diagnosis was change d for 38 % when retested by TST and for 71 % retested by IGRA. Estimated LTBI therapy initiation and completion rates were 68 and 12 %. In this population, testing with IGRA may limit the number of children targeted for therapy. Increased pre-immigration TB screening with post-immigration follow- up evaluation leading to completion of LTBI therapy should be encouraged to prevent TB reactivation.
Source: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health - Category: Global & Universal Source Type: research