The identification of prevalent tuberculosis disease through infection screening among high-risk migrants in the Netherlands. Issue 5 (12th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Spruijt, Ineke; Joren, Chantal; Schimmel, Henrieke; Procee, Frouke; Alam, Yalda; van den Hof, Susan; Erkens, Connie
• Is Part Of: European respiratory journal. Volume 59:Issue 5(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-05-12
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiration -- Periodicals; 616.2
• DOI: 10.1183/13993003.03018-2021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0903-1936

Abstract

In the consolidated guidelines for tuberculosis (TB) prevention and systematic screening for TB disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends countries with a low TB incidence to consider systematic screening for TB disease as well as testing for TB infection (TBI) and preventive TB treatment (TPT) for migrants from high TB burden countries [1, 2]. Many low TB burden countries, including the Netherlands, perform TB screening among those migrants [3]. In the Netherlands, migrants are mandatorily screened for TB by chest radiography (CXR) within 3 months after entry; migrants from countries with an estimated WHO TB incidence of >200 per 100 000 are also offered voluntary biannual follow-up screening for 2 years. TB symptom and TB infection screening has potential to replace current chest radiography screening among high TB risk migrants in low burden countries. Screening programmes should be evaluated through epidemiological data and assessing progression rates. https://bit.ly/362r25u