Skip to main content
Home / The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 17, Number 3

Utilization of a latent tuberculosis infection referral system by newly resettled refugees in central Ohio

Buy Article:

$34.78 + tax (Refund Policy)

SETTING: A resettlement medical screening program that refers refugees with a positive tuberculin skin test (TST) to a public health tuberculosis (TB) clinic for evaluation for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI).

OBJECTIVE: To identify the proportion of refugees that were TST-positive, how many attended after referral for medical evaluation, what characteristics influenced follow-up, and whether programmatic changes would increase follow-up rates.

DESIGN: Refugee characteristics and follow-up information were extracted from the resettlement medical records of 224 adult refugees screened in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio, in 2008. Programmatic modifications in the referral system were implemented in December 2010.

RESULTS: Of 224 refugees screened, 115 (51%) had a TST induration ≥ 5 mm, 113 (98.3%) were referred and 60 (53.1%) attended the Columbus Public Health (CPH) TB clinic for evaluation. Resettling from East Asia (Myanmar, Viet Nam; OR 12.48, 95%CI 2.32–67.06) and TST induration size ≥ 10 mm (OR 9.38, 95%CI 1.41–62.26) were significantly associated with follow-up at the CPH. Implementation of scheduled appointments, telephone reminders and transportation arrangements increased follow-up to 93.5%.

CONCLUSIONS: Collaborative strategies can improve follow-up rates of TST-positive refugees during resettlement medical screening, facilitate LTBI treatment and prevent the development of active TB.

Keywords: foreign-born; high-risk; screening

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: 1: The Ohio State University College of Public Health, Columbus, Ohio, USA 2: Internal Medicine Department, Infectious Disease Division, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA 3: Columbus Public Health, The Ben Franklin TB Control Program, Columbus, Ohio, USA 4: Internal Medicine Department, Infectious Disease Division, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Public Health, The Ben Franklin TB Control Program, Columbus, Ohio, USA

Publication date: 01 March 2013

More about this publication?

  • The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) is for clinical research and epidemiological studies on lung health, including articles on TB, TB-HIV and respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, asthma, COPD, child lung health and the hazards of tobacco and air pollution. Individuals and institutes can subscribe to the IJTLD online or in print – simply email us at [email protected] for details.

    The IJTLD is dedicated to understanding lung disease and to the dissemination of knowledge leading to better lung health. To allow us to share scientific research as rapidly as possible, the IJTLD is fast-tracking the publication of certain articles as preprints prior to their publication. Read fast-track articles.

  • Editorial Board
  • Information for Authors
  • Subscribe to this Title
  • International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
  • Public Health Action
  • Ingenta Connect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Share Content

  • Access Key
  • Free content
  • Partial Free content
  • New content
  • Open access content
  • Partial Open access content
  • Subscribed content
  • Partial Subscribed content
  • Free trial content