Article Abstract:
Drug-resistant tuberculosis appears to be a problem nationwide. An analysis of all cases of tuberculosis reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between 1993 and 1996 revealed that 4% or more of the cases in 41 states were resistant to isoniazid. A small percentage of cases were resistant to other antituberculosis drugs such as rifampin, pyrazinamide, and streptomycin. Of the 1,457 cases in 42 states that were resistant to more than one drug, 38% occurred in New York City. Drug resistance was more common in HIV-positive patients, foreign-born patients and those with previous tuberculosis.
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Article Abstract:
The increase in tuberculosis cases among foreign-born US residents is not only caused by recent immigrants. Analysis of all tuberculosis cases reported to the CDC between 1986 and 1994 found that immigrants from specific countries had high rates of tuberculosis more than 20 years after their arrival in the US. These countries included Vietnam, Haiti, the Philippines and Korea. Almost half of the tuberculosis cases were in foreign-born residents who came to America before their 35th birthday. This indicates that they may have had latent tuberculosis that could have been treated.
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Article Abstract:
Tuberculosis in foreign-born US residents must be controlled if the US is to eliminate tuberculosis. During 1993-1998, the rate of tuberculosis among foreign-born US residents was about five times higher than the rate among native-born residents.
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