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Background: Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major global public health threat. It ranks among the world’s most serious disease and health threats, despite the existence of a cure and the historical advances made in the field. However, in the United States (U.S.), TB has become a disease mainly seen in persons who are born outside of the United States and the most vulnerable U.S. Born populations: persons with substance use disorders, the poor, and racial and ethnic minorities. The parallels between TB and STD’s are even more apparent when assessing racial and socioeconomic health disparities. Thus, it is important that STD providers and staff are aware of the most current information regarding TB prevention and control.
Objectives: Present STD providers and staff with a brief epidemiological update on tuberculosis trends in the United States, as well as describe the disease, how it is transmitted, and the structure of U.S. TB control. Furthermore, a discussion of the racial and socioeconomic TB and STD health disparities will be presented. Finally, we will also describe the many education and training resources available in TB prevention and control.
Methods: A review of current epidemiological trends will be uncovered, using 2003-2008 data of U.S. Born populations with Tuberculosis, and a comparison of the same populations with reportable STD infections.
Results: Similar socioeconomic and patterns characteristics are documented between the two affected populations.
Conclusions: STD providers need to be continually updated of the advances and resources available from TB providers and staff.
Implications for Programs, Policy, and/or Research: Tuberculosis elimination in the United States has serious implications for STD prevention and control. There is an overlap of the populations served, and both populations are likely to seek help from the same medical care settings: public health providers, health departments, and community health centers or clinics.