Prevalence of tuberculosis in a population from Kosovo sheltered in Catalonia, Spain

Background: Prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) among refugees is high. The goa l was to detect TB active cases in a group of refugees from Kosovo and to d escribe the prevalence of TB infection. Patients and Method: 222 people sheltered in Catalonia, Spain, were tested for TB using the Mantoux method and a chest x-ray. The odds ratio (OR) was adjusted by the age of presenting a positive PPD test for different diamete rs of induration according to the previous BCG vaccination history. Results: NO cases Of active TB were detected and 82%, of the population was found to be vaccinated with, BCG. The OR of presenting a positive PPO was higher, and statistically significant, in vaccinated subjects compared to n on-vaccinated ones for indurations greater than or equal to 5 mm and greate r than or equal to 10 mm (OR: 4.5 and 3.6 respectively). Conclusions: BCG-vaccinated subjects from this population can be considered to be infected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis as long as the induration is higher than 15 mm.