Basem Abbas Al Ubaidi - Consultant Family Physician, Ministry of Health / Kingdom of Bahrain, Bahrain

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

Mycobacrium Tuberculosis, tuberculin skin testing, Purified Protein Derivatives