Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Managing Tuberculosis In Refugee Populations, Roselyn Fierkens

Senior Honors Theses

Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne-transmitted infectious disease, responsible for more global deaths than HIV. Multidrug-resistant strains are developing, which heightens the need for swift eradication. Current data states that 71.4% of all TB cases in the United States occur in foreign-born individuals, so populations traveling from TB endemic areas are a key target population for prevention strategies. Various screening procedures exist, but no successful standard is in place. Beyond prevention and treatment strategies, adaptations to cultural communication differences are integral to successful medical interventions. This synthesis of TB pathophysiology, treatments, risk factors, and cultural considerations is intended for use in …