An Interdisciplinary Model to Improve Completion of Latent Tuberculosis Infection Treatment in the Refugee Population

Background: Refugees are disproportionately affected by latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and active tuberculosis (TB) compared to the general US population. More than 50% of TB cases in the US occur in foreign-born persons. In addition, approximately 80% of TB cases in the US are a result of reactivation of LTBI. Treatment of LTBI is effective to prevent and control TB. Unfortunately, LTBI treatment completion rates in the foreign-born are less than 50%. Methods: After conducting a retrospective chart review to establish baseline rates of treatment completion in our LTBI refugee patients, we implemented a model of prospective chart review, initial face-to-face counseling, phone follow up and community monitoring with pharmacy serving as a central point of contact for model coordination and execution. Results: Our LTBI treatment completion rate is now 64% (23 out of 36 LTBI refugee patients), representing an almost 2-fold improvement over our baseline rate of 33%