New Enemy of Refugees: Tuberculosis

Abstract

Objective: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant threat to public health in Turkey. The disease can cause respiratory failure and is followed up in intensive care units (ICU) with different clinical manifestations such as meningitis. The aim of this study was to present the results of a one-year TB follow-up. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional study evaluated the data of patients who were hospitalized between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018 at Anesthesia and Reanimation Clinic of Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital. After obtaining approval from the Ethics Committee, prognostic scores, reasons for hospitalization, presence of additional diseases, types of discharge, presence of hospital infections, duration of mechanical ventilation, diagnosis and culture results were recorded. Results: Data was retrieved from the files of 22 patients with TB. Reasons for admission were respiratory failure in 12 patients (54.5%), septic shock in six (27.3%), and meningitis in four (18.2%). Of these 22 patients, 16 (72.7%) died and six (27.3%) were discharged with recovery, and 40% of all patients were immigrants. The duration of invasive mechanical ventilation was statistically significantly longer in the survivor group (p=0.024). Conclusion: TB is still a serious disease in our country and it is estimated that the cases will be increased due to the increased migration rates in recent years. During the course of disease, intensive care follow-up may be required due to the respiratory distress. Immigration and changing public health can cause structural changes in intensive care units.