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Home / The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 25, Number 11

Screening for active and latent TB among migrants in France

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SETTING: Migrants to Europe face a disproportionate burden of infections, including TB, yet little is known about the approach taken by primary and secondary care providers to screening and treatment. We therefore explored policy and practice relating to screening of active TB and latent TB infection (LTBI) in France.

METHODS: We conducted an online national survey of French primary and secondary care physicians regarding their practices in relation to TB/LTBI screening among migrants.

RESULTS: 367 physicians responded to the questionnaire among which 195 (53.1%) were primary care physicians, 126 (34.3%) were TB specialists in secondary care, and 46 (12.5%) other physicians; 303 (85.5%) were involved daily in the care of migrants. Most respondents recommended systematic TB screening with chest X-ray for migrants from medium and high-incidence countries (71.9%). Primary care physicians were less likely to offer screening than physicians in other settings (aOR 0.21, 95% CI 0.09–0.48). 220 (61.8%) offered LTBI screening for children (<15 years) and 34.0% for all migrants from high incidence countries.

CONCLUSION: Improving awareness on TB screening is a critical next step to improve health outcomes in migrant groups and meet regional targets for tackling TB.

Keywords: migrants; screening; tuberculosis; tuberculosis infection

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: 1: Groupe hospitalier Sud Ile-de-France, Department of Public Health, Melun, Department of Social Epidemiology, Unité mixte de Recherche (UMR) 1136, Institut Pierre Louis d´Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Institut national de la Santé et de la Recherche médicale (INSERM), Sorbonne Université, Paris, 2: National network of TB control centres, Strasbourg Hospital, Strasbourg, France 3: Department of Tropical and Infectious Disease, Hôpital Avicenne, Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux universitaires Paris Seine Saint-Denis, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Bobigny, France 4: Paris Tuberculosis Control Centre, Strasbourg, France 5: Department of Tropical and Infectious Disease, Hôpital Avicenne, Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux universitaires Paris Seine Saint-Denis, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Bobigny, France, Infection Antimicrobials Modelling Evolution, INSERM UMR 1137, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Paris, France 6: Department of Social Epidemiology, Unité mixte de Recherche (UMR) 1136, Institut Pierre Louis d´Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Institut national de la Santé et de la Recherche médicale (INSERM), Sorbonne Université, Paris, Department of General Practice, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France 7: The Migrant Health Research Group, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George´s University of London, London, UK 8: Bordeaux University Hospital, Bordeaux, France 9: Groupe hospitalier Sud Ile-de-France, Department of Public Health, Melun, Department of Social Epidemiology, Unité mixte de Recherche (UMR) 1136, Institut Pierre Louis d´Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Institut national de la Santé et de la Recherche médicale (INSERM), Sorbonne Université, Paris, Department of Tropical and Infectious Disease, Hôpital Avicenne, Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux universitaires Paris Seine Saint-Denis, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Bobigny, France, Centre d´Investigation clinique (CIC) Antilles Guyane, CIC INSERM 1424, Département de Recherche Innovation et Santé Publique, Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne, Cayenne, French Guiana

Publication date: November 1, 2021

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  • 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.

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