Prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection in Syrian refugees to Canada

Abstract

The 9% (95% confidence interval 3-15%) prevalence of LTBI was higher than expected in this population.

Is there a need of health assessments for resettling refugees? A cross-sectional study of 1431 refugees who arrived in Denmark between 2014 and 2018

“…We found 14.9% with latent TB. Other studies using an IGRA test (QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube assay) have found results between 9% and 20% in migrants ( Paxton et al., 2012 ; Warrington et al., 2018 ). Studies using TST skin test found higher results (32%–55%), presumably due to the test also reacting to earlier BCG immunisation or non-tuberculous mycobacteria ( Barnett et al., 2013 ; Padovese et al., 2014 ; Catanzaro and Moser, 1982 ).…”

Profiling infectious diseases in Turkey after the influx of 3.5 million Syrian refugees

“…Such disruption and fragmentation in the public services would also have an impact on the surveillance systems meaning that these official numbers should be treated with caution. For example, Warrington et al [31] showed that the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection among Syrian refugees screened within the first 2 weeks after their arrival in Canada was 9% and they have calculated the annual rate of infection as 0.42%, which led to an estimation of tuberculosis incidence in the source population to be 40 per 100 000 [31]. Such a discrepancy between the official numbers and estimations can be interpreted as under-reporting as well.…”

Interferon-γ Release Assays for Tuberculosis Infection Diagnosis in Refugees <5 Years Old

“…12 These studies included children primarily from African or Asian countries where TB incidence is higher than in the countries of origin represented by the majority of our cohort. In other studies of refugee populations, authors have found similarly higher rates of LTBI (7%-9%), but the authors of these studies have either used TST to diagnose LTBI 13 or included adult patients, 14…”