Abstract

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is a social disease that is common in immigrants who are forced to live in difficult circumstances. In Italy, the guidelines for preventing TB include X-ray screening and application of the Mantoux test for migrants from high-TB-endemic countries as soon as possible after admission to Italy. This article describes a field survey conducted in the reception center for asylum seekers in Bari Palese in southern Italy following the death of a center resident from pulmonary TB. METHODS: A Mantoux screening test, followed by chest X-ray, was carried out in March 2009 on 982 immigrants, representing 97.5% of the residents of the center. RESULTS: A positive Mantoux test result was seen in 60.7% of the residents screened. The chest X-rays were performed on 92.9% of cuti-positive patients and on cuti-negative patients who were recent contacts of the deceased TB case and/or with symptoms suspicious for TB. Eight residents were diagnosed with active TB (0.8% of residents), and 117 residents (11.9%) had TB sequelae. In our survey, the Mantoux test demonstrated 88% sensitivity, 17% specificity, and a positive predictive value of 1% for active TB. CONCLUSION: The survey results suggest that residents in asylum centers are a special type of immigrant. Specific risk factors, such as overcrowding, may expose these residents to a greater risk for infectious diseases.

Autore Pugliese

• Germinario Cinzia Annatea , Quarto Michele , Tafuri Silvio

Tutti gli autori

• GERMINARIO C.A.;QUARTO M.;TAFURI S.

Titolo volume/Rivista

Non Disponibile

Anno di pubblicazione

2011

ISSN

0196-6553

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

17

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Scopus

21

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile