Tuberculosis in France in 2010: Epidemiology, clinical presentation and microbiology

Introduction. - This article presents recent data and trends on the epidemiology, clinical presentation and microbiology of tuberculosis in France during 2010. State of art. - In 2009, a total of 5759 cases were notified in France, representing a rate of 8.2 cases per 100,000. The notification rate was below 10 per 100,000 in all French regions, except in Ile-de-France and French Guyana. Notification rates were higher in some population groups such as people born abroad, especially those born in Sub-Saharan Africa, and those recently arrived in France, as well as in homeless people. Pulmonary tuberculosis accounted for 72% of notified cases, 49% of which were contagious (positive direct examination of sputum, positive culture). Perspectives-conclusions. - Except in 2007 and 2008 the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) has fallen consistently in France for the last 20 years and this was again the case in 2009. These results support the maintenance of a vigilant approach to the control of the disease and call for the enhancement of public health activities in population groups at higher risk of the disease. (C) 2011 SPLF. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.