Tuberculosis Outbreak Investigations in the United States, 2002–2008
Author Information
Author(s): Mitruka Kiren, Oeltmann John E., Ijaz Kashef, Haddad Maryam B.
Primary Institution: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hypothesis
To understand circumstances of tuberculosis transmission that strain public health resources.
Conclusion
Substance abuse remains one of the greatest challenges to controlling tuberculosis transmission in the United States.
Supporting Evidence
- Twenty-seven outbreaks, representing 398 patients, were reviewed.
- Twenty-four of the 27 outbreaks involved primarily US-born patients.
- Prolonged infectiousness due to provider- and patient-related factors was common.
Takeaway
This study looked at tuberculosis outbreaks in the U.S. from 2002 to 2008 and found that many of the people affected were born in the U.S. and had issues with substance abuse.
Methodology
A retrospective review of TB outbreak investigations in the U.S. for which CDC provided onsite assistance during 2002–2008.
Potential Biases
Social risk factors based on self-reported behavior may have been underdisclosed due to stigma.
Limitations
The review may lack generalizability to all TB outbreaks in the U.S. and may overrepresent outbreaks involving hard-to-reach populations.
Participant Demographics
Of the 398 patients, 364 (91%) were US-born, 265 (67%) were Black, and 259 (65%) were male.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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