PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - K. D. Dale AU - J. M. Trauer AU - P. J. Dodd AU - R. M. G. J. Houben AU - J. T. Denholm TI - Estimating the prevalence of latent tuberculosis in a low incidence setting: Australia AID - 10.1183/13993003.01218-2018 DP - 2018 Jan 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - 1801218 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2018/10/18/13993003.01218-2018.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2018/10/18/13993003.01218-2018.full AB - Migration is a key driver of tuberculosis (TB) in many low incidence settings, with the majority of TB cases attributed to reactivation of latent TB (LTBI) acquired overseas. A greater understanding of LTBI risk in heterogeneous migrant populations would aid health planning. We aimed to estimate the LTBI prevalence and distribution among local and overseas-born Australians.Annual risks of tuberculosis infection estimates were applied to population cohorts (by country of birth, year of arrival and age) in Australian census data in 2006, 2011 and 2016.Both the absolute number and proportion of Australian residents with LTBI increased – from 4.6% (IQR [interquartile range] 4.2–5.2%) in 2006 to 5.1% (IQR 4.7%–5.5%) in 2016 – due to the increasing proportion of the population born overseas (23.8% in 2006 to 28.3% in 2016). Of all residents estimated to have LTBI in 2016; 93.2% were overseas born, 21.6% were <35 years of age and 34.4% had migrated to Australia since 2007.The overall prevalence of LTBI in Australia is low. Some residents, particularly migrants from high incidence settings, may have considerably higher risk of LTBI, and these findings allow for tailored public health interventions to reduce the risk and impact of future TB disease.FootnotesThis manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the European Respiratory Journal. It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJ online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article.Conflict of interest: Dr. Dale has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Trauer has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Houben has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Denholm has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Dodd has nothing to disclose.