03110nas a2200361 4500000000100000008004100001260001600042653002400058653005700082653001400139653002400153653001400177100001500191700001600206700001500222700001600237700001400253700001300267700001700280700001500297700002000312700001300332700001200345700001600357700001400373700001300387700001100400700001600411245012400427856015300551520203000704022001402734 2023 d bElsevier BV10aInfectious Diseases10aPublic Health, Environmental and Occupational Health10aScreening10aInfectious diseases10aMigration1 aBarnett ED1 aWheelock AB1 aMacLeod WB1 aMcCarthy AE1 aWalker PF1 aCoyle CM1 aGreenaway CA1 aCastelli F1 aLópez-Vélez R1 aGobbi FG1 aTrigo E1 aGrobusch MP1 aGautret P1 aHamer DH1 aKuhn S1 aStauffer WM00aInfections with long latency in international refugees, immigrants, and migrants seen at GeoSentinel sites, 2016–2018 uhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1477893923001138/pdfft?md5=4f482c1411ed40ed9c70810da38b14a2&pid=1-s2.0-S1477893923001138-main.pdf3 a

Background: The continued increase in global migration compels clinicians to be aware of specific health problems faced by refugees, immigrants, and migrants (RIM). This analysis aimed to characterize RIM evaluated at GeoSentinel sites, their migration history, and infectious diseases detected through screening and diagnostic workups.

Methods: A case report form was used to collect data on demographics, migration route, infectious diseases screened, test results, and primary infectious disease diagnosis for RIM patients seen at GeoSentinel sites. Descriptive statistics were performed.

Results: Between October 2016 and November 2018, 5319 RIM patients were evaluated at GeoSentinel sites in 19 countries. Africa was the region of birth for 2436 patients (46 %), followed by the Americas (1,644, 31 %), and Asia (1,098, 21 %). Tuberculosis (TB) was the most common infection screened and reported as positive (853/2,273, 38 % positive by any method). TB, strongyloidiasis, and hepatitis B surface antigen positivity were observed across all migration administrative categories and regions of birth. Chagas disease was reported only among RIM patients from the Americas (393/394, 100 %) and schistosomiasis predominantly in those from Africa (480/510, 94 %). TB infection (694/5,319, 13 %) and Chagas disease (524/5,319, 10 %) were the leading primary infectious disease diagnoses.

Conclusions: Several infections of long latency (TB, hepatitis B, and strongyloidiasis) with potential for long-term sequelae were seen among RIM patients across all migration administrative categories and regions of origin. Obtaining detailed epidemiologic information from RIM patients is critical to optimize detection of diseases of individual and public health importance, particularly those with long latency periods.

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