Screening for tuberculosis among high-risk groups attending London emergency departments: a prospective observational study

Screening for latent tuberculosis in migrants-status quo and future challenges

OBJECTIVES

To review the evidence that migrants from tuberculosis (TB) high-incidence countries migrating to TB low-incidence countries significantly contribute to active TB cases in the counties of destination, primarily through reactivation of latent TB.

METHODS

This is a narrative review. The different screening programs in the countries of destination are reviewed either based on screening and preventive treatment of latent TB pre or more commonly - post arrival.

RESULTS

Screening can be performed using interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) or tuberculin skin tests (TST). Preventive treatment of latent TB is using either monotherapy with isoniazid, or in combination with rifampicin or rifapentine. We discuss the ethical issues of preventive treatment in asymptomatic individuals and how these are addressed in different screening programs.

CONCLUSION

Screening migrants from TB high endemic countries to TB low endemic countries is beneficial. There is a lack of standardization and agreement on screening protocols, follow up and treatment.

Emergency department screening for latent tuberculosis infection

OBJECTIVE

Approximately 12.4 million people in the U.S. have latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), 73% of whom are non-U.S. born. Identification and treatment of LTBI are essential for tuberculosis eradication. We evaluated an emergency department (ED) - based LTBI screening and linkage to care program.

METHODS

We queried electronic records of a clinical prevention program located in a Midwestern, urban, academic ED that serves as the region's safety-net hospital. Program staff approached non-U.S. born ED patients from TB endemic areas. Patients received QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT) blood testing and, if positive, were referred to treatment. The primary outcome was the proportion of tested patients newly diagnosed with LTBI. We secondarily report the number of patients linked to care who initiated LTBI treatment.

RESULTS

The program approached 33 patients, of whom 24 (72.7%) were eligible, and 23 (95.8%) were tested. The majority were male (13, 56.5%), median age was 33 years (IQR 27-45), and 13 (56.5%) were from Latin America. Three patients (13.0%, 95% CI 0.03-0.35) were newly diagnosed with LTBI and linked to care; two (66.7%) started LTBI treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

In this first report of an ED-based LTBI screening program implemented in a region with low TB prevalence, over 10% of high-risk ED patients tested positive for LTBI and were linked to treatment. Screening populations at risk for LTBI in EDs and linking them to public health treatment services should be prioritized in order to achieve TB elimination in the U.S.