Am J Perinatol 2009; 26(6): 447-451
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1214244
© Thieme Medical Publishers

Universal Tuberculosis Screening in Pregnancy

Nadav Schwartz1 , Sarah A. Wagner1 , Sean M. Keeler1 , Julian Mierlak1 , 2 , David E. Seubert1 , 2 , Aaron B. Caughey3
  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, New York
  • 2Gouverneur Healthcare Services, NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation, New York, New York
  • 3Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
04 March 2009 (online)

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ABSTRACT

We reviewed our practice of universal tuberculosis (TB) screening in an at-risk pregnant population with regards to utility and patient compliance. The Gouverneur Healthcare Services prenatal database was analyzed for compliance with TB screening. Age, ethnicity, country of origin, and education level were also analyzed. Of 4049 patients, 95.0% were compliant with their purified protein derivative (PPD) testing. Universal screening identified 1935 (50.4%) PPD+ patients, with chest X-rays (CXR) available for 95.1%. Only one patient had a CXR consistent with active TB, although sputum testing was negative for acid-fast bacilli. Asian women were more likely to be PPD-compliant (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 4.94, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.34 to 10.45). Similarly, PPD+ Asian women were more likely to be compliant with CXR (aOR: 12.67, 95% CI: 3.44 to 46.7). U.S.-born women were significantly less likely to be compliant with PPD (aOR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.64) or with CXR (aOR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.08 to 0.61). Universal prenatal TB screening is associated with excellent compliance rates and is an effective way to identify a high prevalence of latent TB, but not active disease.