TB Screening of U.S.-Bound Immigrants and Refugees

For those diagnosed overseas with sputum smear–negative or inactive TB, follow-up evaluation after U.S. arrival is critical for detecting cases of active pulmonary TB.

In recent years, nearly 60% of new TB cases reported in the U.S. have been among foreign-born people, and 28% of these cases have been diagnosed ≤2 years after the individuals arrived in the U.S. To study the epidemiology of TB in this population, researchers examined screening and follow-up data from the CDC notification system for TB in immigrants and refugees. They focused on cases of smear-negative or inactive TB detected by overseas medical screening from 1999 through 2005.

During the study period, 2,714,223 immigrants underwent overseas medical screening; smear-negative TB was diagnosed in 26,075 and inactive TB in 22,716. Among 378,506 refugees who underwent such screening, 3923 had smear-negative TB and 10,743 had inactive TB. Follow…

Reviewing Author

Larry M. Baddour, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc. (Authorship duties)

Larry M. Baddour, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc. (Authorship duties)

TB Screening of U.S.-Bound Immigrants and Refugees

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Reviewing Author