RKI evaluation Increasing tuberculosis case numbers in Germany

After the number of cases of tuberculosis in Germany stagnated for several years, a total of 5,865 cases were transmitted to the Robert Koch Institute in 2015, after 4,533 in 2014 and 4,325 in 2013. This figure was higher last year 6,030 cases in 2005. "Despite the increase in tuberculosis case numbers, the risk of infection within the overall population is very low," says Lothar H. Wieler, President of the Robert Koch Institute, on the occasion of the World tuber-ku-lo-se day on 24 March.

As before, a large proportion (almost 30 percent) of tuberculosis patients in Germany are born. The German increase in sickness pay in 2015 compared with 2014 is primarily due to the active fall-out of the legally-required companies. seeking asylum-seeker-the-back. Many asylum seekers come from countries with high tuberculosis rates and therefore have a higher disease risk. The active case search serves to detect tuberculosis early on and to treat diseased persons and thus also to prevent further distribution. According to the Robert Koch Institute, the number of tuberculoses diagnosed as diag-nos-tis by the asylum seekers according to §36 Infection Protection Law was up to date -the numbers for 2015 1,255 cases. In 2014, it was 425, more than twice as many as in 2013 (198 cases). "The precautions for the early detection, treatment and eradication of tuberculosis are therefore more important than ever," underlines Lothar H. Wieler, "The Health authorities must be sufficiently equipped for this, "emphasizes Wieler.

Increase in tuberculosis patient numbers in Germany for the first time. Image: Henrie - fotolia

A detailed evaluation of the tuberculosis situation for 2014 can be found in the "Report on the epidemiology of tuberculosis in Germany for 2014" published by the Robert Koch Institute in December 2015.

Endangered by contact are first and foremost close contact persons of patients, after prolonged or repeated contact. By contrast, the risk of infection following one-month, short-term contact is very low. Also, not every tuberculosis sufferer is necessarily infectious. Almost half of all tuberculosis patients have no contagious, open lung tuberculosis but another form of tuberculosis.

Therefore, the under-investigation, a further form of active, early case-finding and prevention for close contacts in the field of infectious patients is also of great importance. In principle, however, active case-finding measures can only have their full effect if the discovered diseases are subsequently successfully treated. Ensuring effi cient and complete therapy, including the transmission of the therapeutic result, is of great importance for effective tuberculosis control and exploration a coordinated cooperation of all involved.

A meeting sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Health in Berlin in the run-up to the World Tuberculosis Day has been a forum for public health offices, medical practices, clinics and labors since several years Exchange on the challenges in tuberculosis control. In addition to the Robert Koch Institute, the organizers are the German Central Committee for the Control of Tuberculosis (which organizes this year's conference as the lead) and the National Reference Center for Mycobaceteer Research center Borstel. This year's conference on March 14, 2016 will be devoted to the topic "Tuberculosis and Migration".