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App-based symptoms screening with Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay used for active tuberculosis detection in migrants at point of arrivals in Italy: The E-DETECT TB intervention analysis

Barcellini, L; Borroni, E; Cimaglia, C; Girardi, E; Matteelli, A; Marchese, V; Stancanelli, G; ... Cirillo, DM; + view all (2019) App-based symptoms screening with Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay used for active tuberculosis detection in migrants at point of arrivals in Italy: The E-DETECT TB intervention analysis. PLoS One , 14 (7) , Article e0218039. 10.1371/journal.pone.0218039. Gold open access

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: From 2014 to 2017, the number of migrants who came to Italy via the Mediterranean route has reached an unprecedented level. The majority of refugees and migrants were rescued in the Central Mediterranean and disembarked at ports in the Sicily region. Rapid on-spot active TB screening intervention at the point of arrival will cover most migrants arriving in EU and by detecting TB prevalent cases will limit further transmission of the disease. // MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between November 2016 and December 2017 newly arrived migrants at point of arrivals in Sicily, were screened for active Tuberculosis using a smartphone application, followed in symptomatic individuals by fast molecular test, Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra, on collected sputum samples. // RESULTS: In the study period 3787 migrants received a medical evaluation. Eight hundred and ninety-one (23.5%) reported at least one protocol-defined Tuberculosis symptom. Fifteen (2.7%) were positive to at least one microbiological test revealing a post-entry screening prevalence rate of 396 per 100.000 individuals screened (95% CI: 2.22-6.53). In logistic regression analysis, those with cough and at least one other symptom had an increased probability of testing positive compared to persons with symptoms other than cough. Whole-genome-sequencing demonstrate two separate cases of transmission. // DISCUSSION: To our knowledge this study reports first-time results of an active TB case finding strategy based on on-spot symptom screening using a smartphone application, followed by fast molecular test on collected sputum samples. Our preliminary findings reveal a post-entry screening prevalence rate of 396 per 100.000 individuals screened (95% CI: 2.22-6.53).

Type: Article
Title: App-based symptoms screening with Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay used for active tuberculosis detection in migrants at point of arrivals in Italy: The E-DETECT TB intervention analysis
Open access status: An open access publication
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218039
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0218039
Language: English
Additional information: Copyright: © 2019 Barcellini et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Keywords: Tuberculosis, Sputum, Tuberculosis diagnosis and management, Coughing, Italy, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Cell phones, Diagnostic medicine
UCL classification: UCL
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10077606
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