Tuberculosis Screening Among Expatriate in Bahrain

The Majority of expatriate TB cases were identified in Bahrain mainly through passive case finding. Expatriate with LTBI have a 10% risk of developing active TB during their lifetime, with the greatest risk being within 2, 3 years of country entry. Expatriate TB was highest in labors between 20-49 years age group. The key to control TB in Bahrain is either to add PPD testing or doing IGRA, for all pre-employment during expatriate entry to the Kingdom. PPD testing is remaining the preferred method with IGRAs as a supplemental assay in subjects more than 2 years of age. If either TST or IGRA are positive, then active disease must be excluded by chest X-ray and sputum for microscopy and culture. Diagnosis and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection are considered an essential component of TB control strategy and should be a major component of the overall public health plan for controlling TB in Bahrain.