CITC

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the use of chest X-ray (CXR) screening in active case finding for TB in homeless populations.

This article is for healthcare providers looking for information on latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Latent tuberculosis infection refers to an asymptomatic, nontransmissible infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, carrying a 5% to 10% lifetime risk of progressing to active disease. One-half of this risk occurs within the first two years after infection. High-risk groups include recent immigrants from high-incidence countries, health care professionals, persons living or working in institutional settings, and homeless persons.

This review examines the evidence supporting active case finding in migrants and social risk groups, as well as the cost-effectiveness of interventions.

This article, published by IUATLD in 2003, describes the outcomes of identification, tuberculin skin testing (TST), clinical evaluation and treatment for contacts of infectious homeless TB cases. It is a retrospective multicenter review of data of contact investigations conducted in 1996 by five health departments in the United States.

This overview of TB in persons experiencing homelessness by John Bernardo, MD and Jill S. Roncarati, PA-C is a comprehensive look at TB control measures including testing, treating and infection control used to prevent the spread of the disease. As it is over 10 years old some of the more recent developments in TB control and prevention are not included but it continues to offer a comprehensive look at the issues of homelessness and TB from one of the nation’s leading experts.