Tuberc Respir Dis.  2019 Oct;82(4):306-310. 10.4046/trd.2019.0034.

Experiences of Latent Tuberculosis Infection Treatment for the North Korean Refugees

• Kim BK
• Kim HJ
• Kim HJ
• Cha JH
• Lee JB
• Jeon J
• Kim CY
• Kim Y
• Kim JH
• Shin C
• Lee SH

• KMID: 2459054
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2019.0034

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Tuberculosis (TB) is increasing in immigrants. We aimed to investigate the current status of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment for North Korean Refugees (NKR) compared to South Koreans Contacts (SKC).
METHODS
TB close contacts in a closed facility of SKC and NKR who underwent LTBI screening in a settlement support center for NKR were analyzed retrospectively.
RESULTS
Among tuberculin skin test (TST) ≥10 mm (n=298) reactors, the males accounted for 72.2% in SKC (n=126) and 19.5% in NKR (n=172) (p<0.01). The mean age was higher in South Korea (42.8±9.9 years vs. 35.4±10.0 years, p<0.01). Additionally, the mean TST size was significantly bigger in NKR (17.39±3.9 mm vs. 16.57±4.2 mm, p=0.03). The LTBI treatments were initiated for all screened NKR, and LTBI completion rate was only 68.0%. However, in NKR, LTBI treatment completion rate was significantly increased by shorter 4R regimen (odds ratio [OR], 9.296; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.159-20.774; p<0.01) and male (OR, 3.447; 95% CI, 1.191-9.974; p=0.02).
CONCLUSION
LTBI treatment compliance must be improved in NKR with a shorter regimen. In addition, a larger study regarding a focus on LTBI with easy access to related data for NKR should be conducted.

Keyword

Latent Tuberculosis Infection; Tuberculin Test; Interferon-Gamma Release Tests; Therapeutics; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Refugees

MeSH Terms

Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Compliance
Emigrants and Immigrants
Humans
Interferon-gamma Release Tests
Korea
Latent Tuberculosis*
Male
Mass Screening
Refugees*
Retrospective Studies
Skin Tests
Tuberculin
Tuberculin Test
Tuberculosis
Tuberculin

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 The distribution of tuberculosis skin test positive reactors (induration≥10 mm). (A) South Korean contacts. (B) North Korean refugees.

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