Increasing Prevalence of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Respiratory Specimens from US-Affiliated Pacific Island Jurisdictions.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) respiratory infections represent a growing public health problem in many countries. However, there are limited published epidemiologic studies for the Western Pacific region. We reviewed respiratory specimens submitted to Diagnostic Laboratory Services in Hawaii, USA, for culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis during August 2007-December 2011 to determine the NTM isolation rate.

The disconnect between a national tuberculosis drug resistance survey and treatment outcomes: a lost opportunity.

We linked results from the Fourth Botswana National Drug Resistance Survey (DRS), 2007-2008, to patient records from the national Electronic Tuberculosis Registry to determine treatment outcomes. Of 915 new patients, 651 (71%) had treatment data available. Completion or cure was achieved for 10/15 (67%, 95%CI 42-85) with isoniazid monoresistance, (6/16, 38%, 95%CI 18-61) with multidrug resistance, while 73% (391/537, 95%CI 69-76) were susceptible to first-line drugs.

Treatment for LTBI in contacts of MDR-TB patients, Federated States of Micronesia, 2009-2012.

Setting: Few studies have shown the operational feasibility, safety, tolerability, or outcomes of multidrug-resistant latent tuberculous infection (MDR LTBI) treatment. After two simultaneous multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) outbreaks in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia, infected contacts were offered a 12-month fluoroquinolone (FQ) based MDR LTBI treatment regimen.

Design: Between January 2009 and February 2012, 119 contacts of MDR-TB patients were followed using a prospective observational study design.

A tuberculosis outbreak fueled by cross-border travel and illicit substances: Nevada and Arizona.

Objectives: From May 2006 to August 2008, the Southern Nevada Health District identified eight tuberculosis (TB) cases in six adults and two children in a Hispanic community. We conducted an outbreak investigation to determine the extent of TB transmission and prevent additional cases.

Methods: We investigated TB cases in Nevada and Arizona with the outbreak genotype or cases with suspected epidemiologic links to this cluster but without genotyping data.

Tuberculosis among the homeless, United States, 1994-2010.

Objectives: 1) To describe homeless persons diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) during the period 1994-2010, and 2) to estimate a TB incidence rate among homeless persons in the United States.

Methods: TB cases reported to the National Tuberculosis Surveillance System were analyzed by origin of birth. Incidence rates were calculated using the US Department of Housing and Urban Development homeless population estimates.