Tuberculosis among foreign-born residents of southern Florida, 1995.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the characteristics of foreign-born people with tuberculosis (TB) in Southern Florida, their contribution to the total number of TB cases, and available data on their HIV status as well as to determine the number of cases detected by the overseas medical screening of immigrants and refugees. METHODS: The authors reviewed TB cases reported by Broward, Dade, and Palm Beach counties in 1995. Case records were matched against the CDC Division of Quarantine database of immigrants and refugees suspected to have TB at the time of visa application overseas. RESULTS: Nearly half (49%) of TB cases in the three counties were among people born outside the United States--34% in Broward County, 58% in Dade County, and 40% in Palm Beach County. A high percentage (26%) were co-infected with HIV. Of those with known date of arrival, 68% had been in the United States for five or more years. Only three cases had been identified by overseas immigrant screening. CONCLUSIONS: A low percentage of TB cases in foreign-born people were identified through the overseas screening system. Controlling TB in South Florida will require efforts targeted toward high risk populations, including people with HIV infection.

Trends in incidence of hospitalization for traumatic brain injury in Wisconsin from 1989 through 1992.

To aid in determining health care service needs, Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) data on Wisconsin hospital discharges for traumatic brain injury (TBI), using ICD-9-CM codes for intracranial injury with and without skull fracture, and Wisconsin Department of Transportation data on incapacitating non-fatal head injuries (INHI) from traffic accidents from 1989 through 1992 were reviewed. Yearly TBI hospital discharges in Wisconsin declined 15.0%, and by 23.9% for Milwaukee County residents, over 1989 through 1992, correlating closely with changes in yearly INHI in Wisconsin (r = 0.999; p < 0.01) and in Milwaukee County (r = 0.989; p < 0.05). Using 1990 census data the yearly TBI risk ratio for Milwaukee County residents compared to the rest of Wisconsin increased from 1989 (1.76) to 1990 (1.92) and then decreased in 1991 (1.83) and 1992 (1.51). The results of this pilot study suggest there was a decrease in the incidence of hospitalization of patients with TBI in Wisconsin from 1989 through 1992, paralleling a decline in INHI from motor vehicle accidents. There appeared to be a relatively greater decline in these patients in Milwaukee County from 1991 to 1992 as compared to the rest of the state. The techniques employed in this study may be used to help assess rehabilitation service needs in other areas.