Epidemiology of tuberculosis in Galicia, Spain, 1996-2005.

SETTING: Galicia, Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiological evolution and characteristics of tuberculosis (TB) in Galicia over a 10-year period from 1996 to 2005.

DESIGN: A retrospective, descriptive and observational study was conducted, based on data obtained from the Galicia Tuberculosis Registry.

RESULTS: The incidence of TB in Galicia fell from 72.3 cases per 100000 population in 1996 to 37.7/100000 in 2005, resulting in an average annual decrease of 7.0%. In 2005, 51.6% of cases were aged 15-44 years, 61.6% were men, and 59.2% were exclusively pulmonary. No cavitary lesions were found in 63.4%; 50.3% of pulmonary TB cases were sputum smear-positive, and a positive culture was found in 77.3%; 4.4% were human immunodeficiency virus positive, 3.5% were drug users and 3% were immigrants. At least one contact was studied in 80% of smear-positive index cases. The treatment success rate was close to 90%.

CONCLUSIONS: The annual incidence of TB in Galicia has fallen progressively since the TB programme was implemented; it is nevertheless still higher than in other regions of Spain and neighbouring countries, and greater progress in TB control needs to be made.