Tuberculosis prevention and control activities in the United States: an overview of the organization of tuberculosis services.

After a 20% increase in tuberculosis (TB) cases between 1986 and 1992, TB cases in the United States have declined from 1993 through 1997, an average of 5 to 7 per cent per year. In this paper, we review trends and the current epidemiology of TB in the US, present a brief history of TB control efforts in the country, and present the key strategies for TB control in the US. We describe the current organizational structure of TB services in the US, the role of the private sector in TB control, and how TB control is funded.

Tuberculosis control among homeless populations.

The prevalence of tuberculosis infection and disease among homeless persons is high. Several recent outbreaks have been reported in shelters for the homeless. To address this problem, the Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, convened a group of consultants who made the following recommendations: (1) Tuberculosis should be suspected and sputum samples should be collected from any homeless individual with a productive cough.