Descriptive Review of Tuberculosis Surveillance Systems across Circumpolar Regions
Tuberculosis is highly prevalent in many arctic areas. Members of the International Circumpolar Surveillance Tuberculosis (ICS-TB) Working Group collaborate to increase knowledge about tuberculosis in the Arctic region. To allow for the comparison of tuberculosis trends across regions and to establish baseline knowledge on data recording and reporting, ICS-TB reviewed the tuberculosis surveillance systems of member jurisdictions.
METHODS:
Three questionnaires were developed to reflect the different surveillance levels (local, regional and national); all three were forwarded to the member jurisdictions. The respondent was requested to self-identify the level of surveillance conducted in their region and complete the questionnaire. Information collected included surveillance system objectives, case definitions, data collection methodology, storage and dissemination.
RESULTS:
Ten ICS-TB jurisdictions [Canada (Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nunavik, Nunavut, Yukon), Greenland, Norway, Sweden, Russian Federation (Khanty-Mansiyskiy Autonomous Okrug), United States, (Alaska)] voluntarily completed the survey; 2 local, 5 regional and 3 national. Tuberculosis reporting is mandatory in all jurisdictions and case definitions are comparable across regions. The main system objectives are to detect outbreaks, and inform the evaluation/planning of public health program and policies. All jurisdictions collect confirmed active tuberculosis cases and treatment outcomes; nine collect contact tracing results. Faxing of standardised case reporting forms is the most common reporting method. Similar core data elements are collected; 7/10 regions report genotyping results. Data are stored using commercial software (n=6), customized programs (n=3) and one jurisdiction is paper-based. Nine jurisdictions provide monthly, bi-annual or annual reports to principally government and/or scientific/medical audiences.
CONCLUSIONS:
This review successfully establishes baseline knowledge on similarities and differences among circumpolar tuberculosis surveillance systems. The similarity in case definitions will allow the ICS-TB members to describe the epidemiology of TB based on surveillance data in circumpolar regions, further study tuberculosis trends across regions, and recommend best practices to improve surveillance activities.