Tuberculosis Specific Interferon-Gamma Production in a Current Refugee Cohort in Western Europe

Alexandra Jablonka, Christian Dopfer, Christine Happle, Georgios Sogkas, Diana Ernst, Faranaz Atschekzei, Stefanie Hirsch, Annabelle Schäll, Adan Jirmo, Philipp Solbach, Reinhold Ernst Schmidt, Georg M. N. Behrens and Martin Wetzke
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Alexandra Jablonka: Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
Christian Dopfer: Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology and Allergology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
Christine Happle: Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology and Allergology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
Georgios Sogkas: Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
Diana Ernst: Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
Faranaz Atschekzei: Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
Stefanie Hirsch: Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
Annabelle Schäll: Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
Adan Jirmo: Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology and Allergology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
Philipp Solbach: German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 30625 Hannover, Germany
Reinhold Ernst Schmidt: Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
Georg M. N. Behrens: Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
Martin Wetzke: German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 30625 Hannover, Germany

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-8

Abstract: Background: In 2015, a high number of refugees with largely unknown health statuses immigrated to Western Europe. To improve caretaking strategies, we assessed the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in a refugee cohort. Methods: Interferon-Gamma release assays (IGRA, Quantiferon) were performed in n = 232 inhabitants of four German refugee centers in the summer of 2015. Results: Most refugees were young, male adults. Overall, IGRA testing was positive in 17.9% (95% CI = 13.2–23.5%) of subjects. Positivity rates increased with age (0% <18 years versus 46.2% >50 years). Age was the only factor significantly associated with a positive IGRA in multiple regression analysis including gender, C reactive protein, hemoglobin, leukocyte, and thrombocyte count and lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophil, basophil, and eosinophil fraction. For one year change in age, the odds are expected to be 1.06 times larger, holding all other variables constant ( p = 0.015). Conclusion: Observed LTBI frequencies are lower than previously reported in similar refugee cohorts. However, as elderly people are at higher risk for developing active tuberculosis, the observed high rate of LTBI in senior refugees emphasizes the need for new policies on the detection and treatment regimens in this group.

Keywords: tuberculosis; LTBI; refugee; asylum; infection; IGRA; infectious diseases; migrant (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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