Skin-Test Screening and Tuberculosis Transmission among the Homeless

We describe the implementation of a mandatory tuberculosis (TB) screening program that uses symptom screening and tuberculin skin testing in homeless shelters. We used the results of DNA fingerprinting of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates to evaluate the effect of the program on TB incidence and t...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Kong, Po-Marn, Tapy, Jan, Calixto, Patricia, Burman, William J., Reves, Randall R., Yang, Zhenhua, Cave, M. Donald
Formato: Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2002
Materias:
Research
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2738560/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12453356
http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid0811.020306
Descripción
Sumario:We describe the implementation of a mandatory tuberculosis (TB) screening program that uses symptom screening and tuberculin skin testing in homeless shelters. We used the results of DNA fingerprinting of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates to evaluate the effect of the program on TB incidence and transmission. After the program was implemented, the proportion of cases among homeless persons detected by screening activities increased, and the estimated TB incidence decreased from 510 to 121 cases per 100,000 population per year. Recent transmission, defined by DNA fingerprinting analysis as clustered patterns occurring within 2 years, decreased from 49% to 14% (p=0.03). Our results suggest that the shelter-based screening program decreased the incidence of TB by decreasing its transmission among the homeless.

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