No abstract

Transtracheal puncture enables two samples of bronchial secretions to be taken-the product of transtracheal aspiration and simultaneously expectorated sputum (obtained in 71% of the cases)-for the purpose of testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in cases of suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. Two groups of patients were studied: Group I: 100 patients who were poor expectorators and who all underwent transtracheal puncture; Group II (Control): 100 patients who expectorated well or who had been given gastric lavages immediately on admission. Laboratroy analyses revealed M. tuberculosis in at least one of the samples obtained from each of the 200 patients. The authors compare the efficiency of the methods used within each group and between the two groups. Samples obtained by transtracheal aspiration and simultaneous expectoration (75% of positive results) more often contained M. tuberculosis than the other Group I samples (64% of total positive results; 64% of positive results for spontaneous sputa, 65% for gastric fluids), and as often as the Group II samples (76% of total positive results), particularly the expectoration samples (78% of positive results). Simultaneously expectorated sputum more frequently contained M. tuberculosis (82% of positive results) than transtracheal aspiration (69% of positive results). Transtracheal puncture and/or simultaneous expectoration were the only examinations revealing M. tuberculosis in 34 patients in Group I. Non-specific bacteriological findings are not relevant. However, the authors point out that this technique is not always innocuous (although no serious complications were observed in this series), and that transtracheal puncture must always be carried out by physicians trained in the technique.

No abstract

Worldwide, tuberculosis is one of the top 10 causes of death. Although most EU/EEA countries are low-incidence, TB remains a public health issue. In this region, TB predominantly affects vulnerable populations, including migrants (ECDC/WHO, 2019). Since migration has been increasing over the last several decades, the health needs are considerable and merit great attention for several reasons. First, migrants have a right to health. Second, health promotion and disease prevention among migrants contributes to overall public health. Last, healthy migrants contribute to positive development outcomes (WHO, 2016) (IOM, 2017). In order to meet the health needs of migrants, prevention is an important step. Part of preventive care is detecting illness at an early stage (for example by screening), so that treatment can be introduced when it works best (WHO Europe, 2018). However, screening of a population is only beneficial if a positive result leads to effective actions independent of geographic location (Jackson, 2017). So, how does one facilitate a fluid care pathway for TB-elimination? In the Netherlands, the Community Health Services (GGDs) carry out TB-control non-geographically. All 25 GGDs use iTBC, a nationwide, integrated platform that supports and connects all TB processes, independent of place and time. The appropriate TB screening pathway is selected, based on prevalence in country of birth, for all migrants resulting in optimized screening, treatment and control. In a PPP between Topicus, the Dutch Association of GGDs (GGD GHOR Nederland) and the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers, this process has been automated for asylum seekers. By safely sharing relevant data, migrants can be screened and treated effectively. Resulting in health needs of migrants being met and optimum control of TB in low-incidence countries. The aim is to screen, treat, control and end tuberculosis whilst scaling the Dutch blueprint across the EU/EEA region. Key messages TB-screening contributes to EU public health if follow-up actions are facilitated non-geographically. The Dutch blueprint for TB-control shows how migrant health needs are met in an interconnected world.