TY - JOUR
T1 - Infections with long latency in international refugees, immigrants, and migrants seen at GeoSentinel sites, 2016–2018
AU - Barnett, Elizabeth D.
AU - Wheelock, Alyse B.
AU - MacLeod, William B.
AU - McCarthy, Anne E.
AU - Walker, Patricia F.
AU - Coyle, Christina M.
AU - Greenaway, Christina A.
AU - Castelli, Francesco
AU - López-Vélez, Rogelio
AU - Gobbi, Federico G.
AU - Trigo, Elena
AU - Grobusch, Martin P.
AU - Gautret, Philippe
AU - Hamer, Davidson H.
AU - Kuhn, Susan
AU - Stauffer, William M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023
PY - 2023/11/1
Y1 - 2023/11/1
N2 - Background: The continued increase in global migration compels clinicians to be aware of specific health problems faced by refugees, immigrants, and migrants (RIM). This analysis aimed to characterize RIM evaluated at GeoSentinel sites, their migration history, and infectious diseases detected through screening and diagnostic workups. Methods: A case report form was used to collect data on demographics, migration route, infectious diseases screened, test results, and primary infectious disease diagnosis for RIM patients seen at GeoSentinel sites. Descriptive statistics were performed. Results: Between October 2016 and November 2018, 5,319 RIM patients were evaluated at GeoSentinel sites in 19 countries. Africa was the region of birth for 2,436 patients (46 %), followed by the Americas (1,644, 31 %), and Asia (1,098, 21 %). Tuberculosis (TB) was the most common infection screened and reported as positive (853/2,273, 38 % positive by any method). TB, strongyloidiasis, and hepatitis B surface antigen positivity were observed across all migration administrative categories and regions of birth. Chagas disease was reported only among RIM patients from the Americas (393/394, 100 %) and schistosomiasis predominantly in those from Africa (480/510, 94 %). TB infection (694/5,319, 13 %) and Chagas disease (524/5,319, 10 %) were the leading primary infectious disease diagnoses. Conclusions: Several infections of long latency (e.g. TB, hepatitis B, and strongyloidiasis) with potential for long-term sequelae were seen among RIM patients across all migration administrative categories and regions of origin. Obtaining detailed epidemiologic information from RIM patients is critical to optimize detection of diseases of individual and public health importance, particularly those with long latency periods.
AB - Background: The continued increase in global migration compels clinicians to be aware of specific health problems faced by refugees, immigrants, and migrants (RIM). This analysis aimed to characterize RIM evaluated at GeoSentinel sites, their migration history, and infectious diseases detected through screening and diagnostic workups. Methods: A case report form was used to collect data on demographics, migration route, infectious diseases screened, test results, and primary infectious disease diagnosis for RIM patients seen at GeoSentinel sites. Descriptive statistics were performed. Results: Between October 2016 and November 2018, 5,319 RIM patients were evaluated at GeoSentinel sites in 19 countries. Africa was the region of birth for 2,436 patients (46 %), followed by the Americas (1,644, 31 %), and Asia (1,098, 21 %). Tuberculosis (TB) was the most common infection screened and reported as positive (853/2,273, 38 % positive by any method). TB, strongyloidiasis, and hepatitis B surface antigen positivity were observed across all migration administrative categories and regions of birth. Chagas disease was reported only among RIM patients from the Americas (393/394, 100 %) and schistosomiasis predominantly in those from Africa (480/510, 94 %). TB infection (694/5,319, 13 %) and Chagas disease (524/5,319, 10 %) were the leading primary infectious disease diagnoses. Conclusions: Several infections of long latency (e.g. TB, hepatitis B, and strongyloidiasis) with potential for long-term sequelae were seen among RIM patients across all migration administrative categories and regions of origin. Obtaining detailed epidemiologic information from RIM patients is critical to optimize detection of diseases of individual and public health importance, particularly those with long latency periods.
KW - Chagas disease
KW - Infectious diseases
KW - hepatitis B
KW - migration
KW - refugee health
KW - schistosomiasis
KW - screening
KW - sentinel surveillance
KW - strongyloidiasis
KW - tuberculosis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85175538356&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85175538356&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.tmaid.2023.102653
DO - 10.1016/j.tmaid.2023.102653
M3 - Article
C2 - 37852594
AN - SCOPUS:85175538356
SN - 1477-8939
VL - 56
JO - Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease
JF - Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease
M1 - 102653
ER -