Skip to main content
The BMJ logoLink to The BMJ
. 1995 Dec 2;311(7018):1483–1485. doi: 10.1136/bmj.311.7018.1483

Is tuberculosis taken seriously in the United Kingdom?

M R Evans 1
PMCID: PMC2543718  PMID: 8520341

Abstract

Tuberculosis has been the subject of much concern in recent years. Notifications have increased, inadequacies in surveillance revealed, and policies for BCG immunisation and screening of immigrants questioned. Until recently the disease was given low priority in the United Kingdom. There is no overall strategic framework for tackling tuberculosis, and fears have been expressed about the future of local tuberculosis control programmes in the new market economy of the NHS. An action plan for tuberculosis within the context of a national programme is urgently required. Only then will a major impact on the incidence of the disease be seen.

Full text

PDF
1484

Images in this article

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Ahmed S., Hicks N. R., Stanwell-Smith R. Policy and practice--an audit of neonatal BCG immunization in Avon. J Public Health Med. 1992 Dec;14(4):389–392. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.pubmed.a042778. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bhatti N., Law M. R., Morris J. K., Halliday R., Moore-Gillon J. Increasing incidence of tuberculosis in England and Wales: a study of the likely causes. BMJ. 1995 Apr 15;310(6985):967–969. doi: 10.1136/bmj.310.6985.967. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Brown J. S., Wells F., Duckworth G., Paul E. A., Barnes N. C. Improving notification rates for tuberculosis. BMJ. 1995 Apr 15;310(6985):974–974. doi: 10.1136/bmj.310.6985.974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Prevention and control of tuberculosis in correctional institutions: recommendations of the Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Tuberculosis. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1989 May 12;38(18):313-20, 325. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus infection: recommendations of the Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Tuberculosis (ACET). MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1989 Apr 14;38(14):236-8, 243-50. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Darbyshire J. H. Tuberculosis: old reasons for a new increase? BMJ. 1995 Apr 15;310(6985):954–955. doi: 10.1136/bmj.310.6985.954. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Davies P. D. Control of communicable disease. Tuberculosis screening falls foul of reforms. BMJ. 1993 Jul 3;307(6895):59–59. doi: 10.1136/bmj.307.6895.59-b. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. De Cock K. M., Grant A., Porter J. D. Preventive therapy for tuberculosis in HIV-infected persons: international recommendations, research, and practice. Lancet. 1995 Apr 1;345(8953):833–836. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(95)92967-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Di Perri G., Cruciani M., Danzi M. C., Luzzati R., De Checchi G., Malena M., Pizzighella S., Mazzi R., Solbiati M., Concia E. Nosocomial epidemic of active tuberculosis among HIV-infected patients. Lancet. 1989 Dec 23;2(8678-8679):1502–1504. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Dowdle W. R., Centers for Disease Control (CDC) A strategic plan for the elimination of tuberculosis in the United States. MMWR Suppl. 1989 Apr 21;38(3):1–25. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Dwyer B., Jackson K., Raios K., Sievers A., Wilshire E., Ross B. DNA restriction fragment analysis to define an extended cluster of tuberculosis in homeless men and their associates. J Infect Dis. 1993 Feb;167(2):490–494. doi: 10.1093/infdis/167.2.490. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Hardie R. M., Watson J. M. Screening migrants at risk of tuberculosis. BMJ. 1993 Dec 11;307(6918):1539–1540. doi: 10.1136/bmj.307.6918.1539. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Hickman M., Ellam T., Hargreaves S., Gazzard B., Porter J. Managing tuberculosis and HIV infection. BMJ. 1992 Jun 13;304(6841):1567–1568. doi: 10.1136/bmj.304.6841.1567-c. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Hussain S. F., Watura R., Cashman B., Campbell I. A., Evans M. R. Audit of a tuberculosis contact tracing clinic. BMJ. 1992 May 9;304(6836):1213–1215. doi: 10.1136/bmj.304.6836.1213. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Iseman M. D., Starke J. Immigrants and tuberculosis control. N Engl J Med. 1995 Apr 20;332(16):1094–1095. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199504203321611. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Joseph C. A., Watson J. M., Fern K. J. BCG immunisation in England and Wales: a survey of policy and practice in schoolchildren and neonates. BMJ. 1992 Aug 29;305(6852):495–498. doi: 10.1136/bmj.305.6852.495. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Kent R. J., Uttley A. H., Stoker N. G., Miller R., Pozniak A. L. Transmission of tuberculosis in British centre for patients infected with HIV. BMJ. 1994 Sep 10;309(6955):639–640. doi: 10.1136/bmj.309.6955.639. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. McKenna M. T., McCray E., Onorato I. The epidemiology of tuberculosis among foreign-born persons in the United States, 1986 to 1993. N Engl J Med. 1995 Apr 20;332(16):1071–1076. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199504203321606. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Ormerod L. P., Shaw R. J., Mitchell D. M. Tuberculosis in the UK, 1994: current issues and future trends. Thorax. 1994 Nov;49(11):1085–1089. doi: 10.1136/thx.49.11.1085. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Ormerod L. P. Tuberculosis screening and prevention in new immigrants 1983-88. Respir Med. 1990 Jul;84(4):269–271. doi: 10.1016/s0954-6111(08)80051-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Packe G. E., Innes J. A. Protective effect of BCG vaccination in infant Asians: a case-control study. Arch Dis Child. 1988 Mar;63(3):277–281. doi: 10.1136/adc.63.3.277. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Patel K. R. Pulmonary tuberculosis in residents of lodging houses, night shelters and common hostels in Glasgow: a 5-year prospective survey. Br J Dis Chest. 1985 Jan;79(1):60–66. doi: 10.1016/0007-0971(85)90008-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Sheldon C. D., King K., Cock H., Wilkinson P., Barnes N. C. Notification of tuberculosis: how many cases are never reported? Thorax. 1992 Dec;47(12):1015–1018. doi: 10.1136/thx.47.12.1015. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Sutherland I., Springett V. H. Effectiveness of BCG vaccination in England and Wales in 1983. Tubercle. 1987 Jun;68(2):81–92. doi: 10.1016/0041-3879(87)90023-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Sutherland I., Springett V. H. The effects of the scheme for BCG vaccination of schoolchildren in England and Wales and the consequences of discontinuing the scheme at various dates. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1989 Mar;43(1):15–24. doi: 10.1136/jech.43.1.15. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from BMJ : British Medical Journal are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES