High Rates of Tuberculosis in End-Stage Renal Failure: the Impact of International Migration

Abstract

We studied a cohort of patients requiring renal dialysis who had migrated to the United Kingdom from tuberculosis (TB)-endemic countries and found extremely high rates of TB (1,187 cases per 100,000 per year), partly associated with end-stage diabetic renal disease. We recommend enhanced vigilance and screening of such patients, both to reduce illness and death and to prevent nosocomial spread of TB among susceptible persons.

Keywords

• tuberculosis
• renal failure
• renal dialysis
• immigrants
• nosocomial
• United Kingdom