• norsk
    • English
  • English 
    • norsk
    • English
  • Login
View Item 
  •   Home
  • Øvrige samlinger
  • Publikasjoner fra CRIStin - NTNU
  • View Item
  •   Home
  • Øvrige samlinger
  • Publikasjoner fra CRIStin - NTNU
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Tuberculosis screening and follow-up of asylum seekers in Norway: a cohort study

Harstad, Ingunn; Heldal, Einar; Steinshamn, Sigurd L; Garåsen, Helge; Jacobsen, Geir W
Journal article, Peer reviewed
Thumbnail
View/Open
1471-2458-9-141.pdf (233.6Kb)
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/11250/1605467
Date
2009
Metadata
Show full item record
Collections
  • Institutt for samfunnsmedisin og sykepleie [1716]
  • Institutt for sirkulasjon og bildediagnostikk [1013]
  • Publikasjoner fra CRIStin - NTNU [19849]
Original version
BMC Public Health 2009, 9   10.1186/1471-2458-9-141
Abstract
Background: About 80% of new tuberculosis cases in Norway occur among immigrants from high incidence

countries. On arrival to the country all asylum seekers are screened with Mantoux test and chest x-ray aimed to

identify cases of active tuberculosis and, in the case of latent tuberculosis, to offer follow-up or prophylactic

treatment.

We assessed a national programme for screening, treatment and follow-up of tuberculosis infection and disease

in a cohort of asylum seekers.

Methods: Asylum seekers ≥ 18 years who arrived at the National Reception Centre from January 2005 to June

2006, were included as the total cohort. Those with a Mantoux test ≥ 6 mm or positive x-ray findings were

included in a study group for follow-up.

Data were collected from public health authorities in the municipality to where the asylum seekers had moved,

and from hospital based internists in case they had been referred to specialist care.

Individual subjects included in the study group were matched with the Norwegian National Tuberculosis Register

which receive reports of everybody diagnosed with active tuberculosis, or who had started treatment for latent

tuberculosis.

Results: The total cohort included 4643 adult asylum seekers and 97.5% had a valid Mantoux test. At least one

inclusion criterion was fulfilled by 2237 persons. By end 2007 municipal public health authorities had assessed 758

(34%) of them. Altogether 328 persons had been seen by an internist. Of 314 individuals with positive x-rays, 194

(62%) had seen an internist, while 86 of 568 with Mantoux ≥ 15, but negative x-rays (16%) were also seen by an

internist. By December 31st 2006, 23 patients were diagnosed with tuberculosis (prevalence 1028/100 000) and

another 11 were treated for latent infection.

Conclusion: The coverage of screening was satisfactory, but fewer subjects than could have been expected from

the national guidelines were followed up in the community and referred to an internist. To improve follow-up of

screening results, a simplification of organisation and guidelines, introduction of quality assurance systems, and

better coordination between authorities and between different levels of health care are all required.
Publisher
BioMed Central
Journal
BMC Public Health

Contact Us | Send Feedback

Privacy policy
DSpace software copyright © 2002-2019  DuraSpace

Service from  Unit
 

 

Browse

ArchiveCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsDocument TypesJournalsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsDocument TypesJournals

My Account

Login

Statistics

View Usage Statistics

Contact Us | Send Feedback

Privacy policy
DSpace software copyright © 2002-2019  DuraSpace

Service from  Unit