Tuberculosis screening, referral, and treatment in an inner city homeless shelter in Orleans parish

J La State Med Soc. 2000 Aug;152(8):398-404.

Abstract

Tuberculosis screening and preventive therapy among the homeless has been a challenge because of the lack of coordinated follow-up. Homeless persons at a homeless shelter in inner city New Orleans were screened for tuberculosis infection and referred for follow-up evaluation and preventive therapy. Fifty-two percent of the 104 persons screened completed the initial evaluation. Twenty-two percent of these patients had latent tuberculosis infection. Forty-two percent of infected patients completed the referral and follow-up process. Patients during the second 3 months of the program were twice as likely to complete the initial evaluation, the referral, and the follow-up process as were patients during the first 3 months due to enhanced awareness and increased educational intervention. A competent referral system for homeless persons may be achieved by implementing a single-clinic, on-site tuberculosis screening and follow-up system with the active participation and coordination of state agencies, the medical community, and organizations which operate homeless facilities.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antitubercular Agents / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Ill-Housed Persons / statistics & numerical data*
  • Incidence
  • Louisiana / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / organization & administration*
  • Middle Aged
  • Poverty Areas
  • Referral and Consultation / standards*
  • Referral and Consultation / trends
  • Risk Assessment
  • Tuberculin Test / statistics & numerical data*
  • Tuberculosis / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis / drug therapy*
  • Tuberculosis / epidemiology
  • Urban Population

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents