Abstract
We conducted a retrospective study to examine trends in latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and TB disease rates among homeless persons in shelters in New York, NY, 1992–2006. Although TB case rates fell from 1,502/100,000 population to 0, a 31% LTBI rate in 2006 shows the value of identifying and treating TB in the homeless.
Highlights
We conducted a retrospective study to examine trends in latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and TB disease rates among homeless persons in shelters in New York, NY, 1992–2006
The number of single adult homeless persons identified by the yearly census of the New York City Department of Homeless Services ranged from 27,846 in 1992 to 29,348 in 2005 [2], while the number and proportion of TST screenings by our program increased from 972 (3% of New York City total) in 1992 to 4,093 (13.9%) in 2005, the last complete year of our data
Overall, when the categories of administered TST and TST positivity by history were combined as indicators of LTBI, results decreased from 58.1% to 30.9% (1992–2006) at site 1 and from 57.3% to 30.8% at sites 2–8 combined (1997–2006)
Summary
We conducted a retrospective study to examine trends in latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and TB disease rates among homeless persons in shelters in New York, NY, 1992–2006. TST was not offered to those with a convincing past history of TB or a documented or convincing history of a previous positive TST result (explanation in online Technical Appendix, available from www.cdc.gov/EID/ content/15/7/1109-Techapp.pdf).
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