Tuberculosis test site established

The University of Pennsylvania Medical Center has established a tuberculosis screening and testing program, according to Patrick Brennan, director of infection control for the center. Brennan said the Medical Center has been collaborating with the city of Philadelphia to establish the clinical practice, in order to help combat TB and other mycobacterial diseases. The program is the only one of its kind in the surrounding area, he added. Other physicians and facilities such as the Philadelphia Department of Health can refer patients to the program for comprehensive treatment. "Because of our wide referral area, we are able to treat a great many of the cases in this area," Brennan said. According to Brennan, TB is one of the most common infectious diseases existing today. "There are about 25,000 people infected with the TB disease in the United States," he said. "There are about 700 to 750 cases in Pennsylvania." He added that 45 percent of the cases in Pennsylvania are in Philadelphia. TB is spread through the air, although prolonged exposure to the organism is normally necessary for infection to occur. Patients who contract the TB infection can have the bacteria dormant in their body for years. TB is only becomes contagious when the patient has an active case of the disease. Brennan said that only five percent of infections develop into the disease within a few years. And only five percent more will develop the disease later in life. Symptoms of TB include fever, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss, coughing and chest pains. The infection is detected by the tuberculin skin test. The TB infection can be countered with preventive medication that keeps the disease from manifesting. If the disease occurs, it is treated with antituberculosis medications for a minimum of six months. Brennan said that the infection has been around for a long time. "There is mummy evidence of it from before history was recorded," he said. He added that at the turn of the century, TB was the leading cause of death. "In the 1950s, the levels decreased because of the introduction of new antibiotics," he explained. "But then, because of HIV and elevated immigration levels, the curve began to go upward again." But Brennan said due to TB awareness, the curve is starting to turn down. Higher concentrations of TB are found in minority populations, due to the higher susceptibility to the disease in areas such as Asia, Africa and Latin America. "And poverty or a lower [socio-economic status] is always closely related with TB," Brennan added.