Tuberculosis trends in a hot-spot region in Paris, France.

SETTING

Tuberculosis (TB) incidence is declining overall in France, but not in Paris where some areas remain relative hot spots for TB.

OBJECTIVES

To obtain a better knowledge of local TB epidemiology in order to facilitate control measures.

DESIGN

Analysis of demographic data of TB patients diagnosed at the Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital from 2007 to 2016, with spoligotyping of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates.

RESULTS

During the study period, 1096 TB patients were analysed. The incidence of TB diagnosis was stable, averaging 115 patients per year, predominantly males (71%), foreign-born (81%), with pulmonary TB (77%) and negative HIV serology (88%). The mean age of foreign-born TB patients decreased over the study period, most significantly in recent arrivals in France, whose average age decreased by two years (P = 0.001). The time period between arrival in France and being diagnosed with active TB decreased annually significantly by 0.75 years (P = 0.02). The proportion of L4.6.2/Cameroon and L2/Beijing sub-lineages increased annually by 0.7% (P < 0.05). Multi-drug resistant strains, representing 4% of all strains, increased annually by 0.75% (P = 0.03)

CONCLUSION

The number of TB patients remained high in northern Paris and the surrounding suburbs, suggesting the need for increased control measures.