Tuberculosis in Sheltered Homeless Population of Rome: An Integrated Model of Recruitment for Risk Management
Open Access
- 1 January 2012
- journal article
- Published by Hindawi Limited in The Scientific World Journal
- Vol. 2012, 1-7
- https://doi.org/10.1100/2012/396302
Abstract
The authors show the results of an integrated model for risk management of tuberculosis in a sample of sheltered homeless in Rome. Tuberculin skin test (TST) was used for evaluating the prevalence of latent infection (LTBI). In TST positives, expectorate was collected and chest X-ray was achieved. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate determinants of infection. Out of 288 recruited subjects, 259 returned for the TST reading; 45.56% were positive and referred to a specialized center; 70 accessed the health facility and completed the clinical pathway. The risk factors associated to LTBI were male gender (), age over 60 years (), immigrant status (), and obesity (). This approach, based on an integrated social network, guarantees high adherence to screening (89.93%), allowing patients testing positive for latent tuberculosis infection to be diagnosed and rapidly referred to a specialized center.
Keywords
Funding Information
- Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (2005060582)
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