No decrease in annual risk of tuberculosis infection in endemic area in Cape Town, South Africa

Summary objective To estimate the change in annual risk of tuberculosis infection (ARTI) in two neighbouring urban communities of Cape Town, South Africa with an HIV prevalence of approximately 2%, and to compare ARTI with notification rates and treatment outcomes in the tuberculosis (TB) programme. methods In 1998–1999 and 2005, tuberculin skin test surveys were conducted to measure the pre-valence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and to calculate the ARTI. All 6 to 9-year-old children from all primary schools were included in the survey. Notification rates and treatment outcomes were obtained from the TB register