Highly infectious TB cases increase by one third in England since 1999

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The number of cases of TB that can be assumed to be highly infectious increased by one third in England and Wales between 1999 and 2003, according to data presented by the Health Protection Agency at the 36th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Paris.

The proportion of cases of pulmonary TB that were smear positive increased from 31% to 41% whilst the total number of reported cases increased by 19%, to 6,780 cases in 2003. This indicates that the pool of people with TB who were highly infectious rose susbtantially.

In 2003 a total of 30% of all TB cases were diagnosed in people who had been living in the UK for less than four years, up from just under 20% in 1999.

Glossary

multivariate analysis

An extension of multivariable analysis that is used to model two or more outcomes at the same time.

pulmonary

Affecting the lungs.

 

isoniazid

An antibiotic that works by stopping the growth of bacteria. It is used with other medications to treat active tuberculosis (TB) infections, and on its own to prevent active TB in people who may be infected with the bacteria without showing any symptoms (latent TB). 

smear

A specimen of tissue or other material taken from part of the body and smeared onto a microscope slide for examination. A Pap smear is a specimen of material scraped from the cervix (neck of the uterus) examined for precancerous changes.

Increases in resistance were also noted. Isoniazid resistant TB cases rose from 5.8% to 7.2% of all notifications and multi-drug resistant cases rose from 0.6% to 1.3% of all notifications, but multivariate analysis did not find these increases to be significant.

Further UK information

Health Protection Agency TB surveillance

References

Crofts J et al. Enhanced tuberculosis surveillance in England & Wales, 1999-2003. Int J Tubreculosis Lung Dis 9 (11 sup 1): S154, 2005.