Evaluation of tuberculosis screening of immigrants in the Netherlands. Issue 4 (12th October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van de Berg, Sarah; Erkens, Connie; van Rest, Job; van den Hof, Susan; Kamphorst, Margreet; Keizer, Sytze; de Vries, Gerard
• Is Part Of: European respiratory journal. Volume 50:Issue 4(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-10-12
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiration -- Periodicals; 616.2
• DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00977-2017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0903-1936

Abstract

In European Union/European Economic Area countries, a large proportion of patients with tuberculosis (TB) are born in or are citizens of a country different from the notifying country [1]. Immigrants have an increased risk for TB, depending on the TB incidence in their country of origin, conditions of their migration and duration of stay in the host country [2]. In low TB-incidence countries, systematic screening of immigrants at high risk for TB pre- or post-entry may be considered a key intervention in the progress towards TB elimination [3, 4]. However, current screening policies and practices in European low-incidence countries differ substantially [5, 6]. Evaluation of TB screening needed to periodically assess its effectiveness and inform policy decision http://ow.ly/F8zQ30f7l9D