Abstract

In order to assess the measures involved in the control of tuberculosis in the Somme Department, France, five years after the implementation of the French National Tuberculosis Program, we found it essential to describe the precise epidemiology on this disease. All reported cases of tuberculosis between 2007 and 2011 were retrospectively included and a descriptive analysis of the incidence of the disease and patients’ characteristics was conducted.  175 cases were reported. After an increase in the incidence of TB (x105) between 2007 and 2008 from 5.8 to 6.8, it has steadily declined for 2 years (4.9 in 2010) before rising in 2011 with a record of 7.6. In 2010 and 2011, the incidence in children aged less than five years old, respectively 5.7 and 8.5 was greater than the incidence of the department (p=0.8). Approximately 7% of cases were diagnosed during an investigation around a case of tuberculosis and 6.3% in targeted screening. Among tuberculosis cases with pulmonary localization (145 cases), 57.7% patients had positive sputum smear. After the suspension of the compulsory BCG vaccination, particular attention must be paid in children during a screening procedure around a case of tuberculosis.

Key words: Tuberculosis, epidemiology, Somme, France.