Immigrant screening for latent tuberculosis infection: numbers needed to test and treat, a Norwegian population-based cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To estimate the number needed to screen (NNS) and the number needed to treat (NNT) to prevent one tuberculosis (TB) case in the Norwegian immigrant latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening programme and to explore the effect of delay of LTBI treatment initiation.

Design

Population-based, prospective cohort study.

Participants

Immigrants to Norway.

Outcome

Incident TB.

Methods

We obtained aggregated data on immigration to Norway in 2008-2011 and used data from the Norwegian Surveillance System for Infectious Diseases to assess the number of TB cases arising in this cohort within 5 years after arrival. We calculated the average NNS and NNT for immigrants from the top 10 source countries for TB in Norway and by estimated TB incidence rates

SUBMITTER: Winje BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6340421 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature