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Reported Tuberculosis in the United States, 2017										Related Pages
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**Executive Commentary**
Introduction
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial disease caused by infection with *Mycobacterium tuberculosis* complex. Since 1953, the National TB Surveillance System (NTSS) has collected information on each newly reported case of TB disease in the United States. In addition to the 50 United States and the District of Columbia (DC), CDC accepts TB case reports from five U.S. territories (American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and three sovereign nations that have signed compacts of free association with the United States (Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau); however, the information presented in this commentary is based on the case reports from the 50 states and DC, except where otherwise specified. CDC maintains TB surveillance data in an electronic database for all cases reported since 1993; reporting areas may update this information at any time. Small variations in historical data included in this report compared with previous reports are attributed to these updates. This annual summary contains information on TB cases reported to CDC during 1993–2017 by year that the reporting jurisdiction counted the case.
Key Findings
*National Level*
In 2017, the 50 states and the District of Columbia (herein referred to as the “United States”) reported 9,105 TB cases to CDC, representing the lowest number of annual cases on record and 1.6% decrease from 2016 (Table 1). The national TB incidence rate was 2.8 per 100,000 persons, a 2.3% decrease from 2016 (Table 1).
*State, Territorial, and Local Level*
California (2,057 cases, 22.6%), Texas (1,127 cases, 12.4%), New York (806 cases, 8.9%), and Florida (549 cases, 6.0%) reported the greatest number of cases in 2017 (Table 29). Together, they accounted for just under half of the cases reported by the 50 states and DC (Table 29). Hawaii (8.1), Alaska (7.2), California (5.2), and DC (5.2) reported the highest incidence rates per 100,000 persons (Table 28). Twelve states and DC reported incidence rates above the national average of 2.8 cases per 100,000 persons (Table 28). While case counts were comparatively low in the U.S. territories and freely associated states, reported incidence rates per 100,000 persons ranged from zero in the U.S. Virgin Islands to 352.8 in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (Table 28).
Among Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) with ≥500,000 population in 2017, the New York-Newark-Jersey City MSA reported the greatest number of cases (976), followed by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (726 cases), San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward (357 cases), and Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land (341 cases) (Table 53). However, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (9.3), Urban Honolulu (9.1), San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward (7.6) and San Diego-Carlsbad (7.1) reported the highest incidence rates per 100,000 persons (Table 53).
Demographic Characteristics
*Country of Birth*
Country of birth continues to be a major risk factor for TB diagnosed in the United States because the risk of TB exposure varies by country. In 2017, 2,705 TB cases were reported in U.S.-born persons (defined as persons born in the United States or its territories, or born elsewhere to a U.S. citizen parent), compared with 6,384 cases in non-U.S.–born persons (29.7% vs 70.1%) (Table 5). In terms of incidence rates per 100,000 persons, U.S.-born persons had a TB rate of 1.0 compared with 14.7 among non-U.S.–born persons (Table 5). Among non-U.S.–born persons reported with TB in 2017, the top five countries of birth by number of cases reported were Mexico, the Philippines, India, Vietnam, and China (Table 6).
Among the cases reported in non-U.S.–born persons in 2017, a total of 1040 (16.3%) were diagnosed <1 year after first arrival in the United States, which is consistent with previous observations of the proportion of TB cases among non-U.S.–born persons diagnosed in the first few years after arrival in the United States (Table 19). Approximately equal percentages of TB cases among non-U.S.–born persons occurred <10 years and ≥10 years after first arrival, demonstrating that TB is a concern among all non-U.S.–born persons, even long-term U.S. residents (Table 19).
*Race and Ethnicity*
TB continues to affect racial and ethnic minorities disproportionately compared with non-Hispanic whites. The TB incidence rate per 100,000 persons for non-Hispanic whites has remained relatively stable for the past 4 years and is currently 0.5, while the incidence rate for other racial/ethnic groups in 2017 ranged from 3.9 for non-Hispanic American Indians/Alaska Natives to 19.1 among non-Hispanic Native Hawaiians/Other Pacific Islanders (7.2–35.2 times the rate for non-Hispanic whites) (Table 2).
Among U.S.-born persons reported with TB disease in 2017, non-Hispanic blacks were most commonly represented (1,007 cases, 37.2%), followed by non-Hispanic whites (803 cases, 29.7%) and Hispanics (593 cases, 21.9%) (Table 3). Among non-U.S.–born persons reported with TB disease in 2017, non-Hispanic Asians (3,115 cases, 48.8%) were the largest group, followed by Hispanics (1,967 cases, 30.8%) and non-Hispanic blacks (900 cases, 14.1%) (Table 3).
*Age*
TB remains most commonly reported among persons 25–64 years of age (60.6%), followed by older adults (≥65 years of age) at 25.3% and adolescents and young adults between 15 and 24 years of age at 9.3% (Table 4). Children <15 years of age constitute only 4.7% of U.S. TB cases, although these cases are often of great concern to TB programs as they might be indicators of recent transmission of TB (Table 4).
Clinical Characteristics
*Site of Disease*
Pulmonary disease (either exclusively or in combination with extrapulmonary disease) continues to represent the vast majority (79.2%) of U.S. TB cases (Table 7). Among the 1,887 cases reported with exclusively extrapulmonary disease, the most commons sites of disease included the lymphatic system (37.8%), the pleura (15.6%), bones or joints (9.2%), the peritoneum (5.9%), the meninges (4.3%), and the genitourinary system (4.1%) (Table 15). Of note, there were no laryngeal (a particularly infectious site of TB disease) TB cases reported in 2017 (Table 15).
*Case Verification Criteria*
The vast majority (78.1%) of U.S. TB cases were confirmed via microbiologic culture that isolated *M. tuberculosis* complex from a clinical specimen, while 2.9% did not have a positive culture result but were confirmed either through a positive nucleic acid amplification test conducted directly on a clinical specimen or on the basis of identification of acid-fast bacilli through microscopic examination of a clinical specimen (Table 7). The remaining 19% of cases, which were not verified through microbiologic testing, were confirmed either by meeting clinical criteria or on the basis of a diagnosis made by a healthcare provider (Table 7).
*Comorbidities*
Among persons reported with TB in 2017, a total of 439 (5.5% of TB cases with test result information) were co-infected with HIV (Table 11). Of these patients with HIV/TB coinfection, 236 were 25–44 years of age (9.2% of TB cases in this age group with test result information) (Table 11). The percentage of HIV/TB co-infection has remained stable over the last 3 years (Table 11). Additionally, diabetes mellitus continues to be an important clinical risk factor for TB disease. In 2017, a total of 1,816 (19.9%) persons reported with TB also had diabetes (Table 35). Immunosuppressive conditions other than HIV were reported in 650 (7.1%) of 2017 TB cases and 708 (7.8%) cases occurred in persons who were a known contact of an infectious TB case (Table 35).
Social and Behavioral Risk Factors
*Congregate Settings*
Residence in congregate settings remains a risk factor for TB infection, which can subsequently progress to TB disease. Additionally, TB cases in congregate settings increase the risk of secondary cases and the difficulty of subsequent contact investigations. Among TB cases reported among persons ≥15 years of age in 2017, healthcare providers diagnosed 268 (3.1%) cases among residents of correctional facilities (Table 37), 397 (4.6%) cases in persons who experienced homelessness in the year preceding diagnosis (Table 38), and 150 (1.7%) cases among residents of long-term care facilities (Table 39).
*Substance Use*
Substance use is also a risk factor for TB infection and for progression to TB disease. Among TB cases diagnosed in persons ≥15 years of age that were reported in 2017 with information on history of substance use in the year preceding TB diagnosis, 101 (1.2%) cases were among persons who reported injecting drugs (Table 40), 573 (6.7%) reported using noninjectable drugs (Table 41), and 753 (8.9%) reported excessive alcohol use (Table 42).
TB Drug Resistance
*Isoniazid Resistance*
Resistance to anti-TB drugs remains relatively low in the United States, with 598 (9.2%) cases among all cases with available information on anti-TB drug susceptibility, previous history of TB, and origin of birth being resistant to at least isoniazid in 2017 (Table 8). While the proportion of cases with no previous history of TB disease that reported isoniazid resistance (i.e., primary isoniazid resistance) has remained stable at approximately 9% in the last several years, the proportion of cases with at least one previous episode of TB disease that reported isoniazid resistance (i.e., potentially acquired isoniazid resistance) has been increasing in recent years to nearly 20% (Table 8).
*Multidrug Resistance (MDR)*
The percentage of U.S. TB cases that are multidrug-resistant (MDR, or resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampin) TB has remained steady for >20 years at approximately 1% of culture-positive cases with drug susceptibility results (Table 9). The United States reported two extensively drug-resistant TB (defined as MDR TB that is additionally resistant to any fluoroquinolone and at least one of three injectable second-line anti-TB drugs) cases in 2017.
TB Treatment and Outcome
*Initial Treatment Regimen*
To reduce the risk of inducing drug resistance, CDC recommends treating all newly diagnosed TB cases with at least four anti-TB drugs.1 The typical initial drug regimen for TB cases not known to have drug resistance includes isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol (i.e., IRZE regimen). In 2017, 83.2% of U.S. TB cases received the recommended IRZE regimen as the initial drug regimen (Table 10). An additional 10.2% of cases received a different initial drug regimen that still included at least four anti-TB drugs (Table 10).
*Directly Observed Therapy (DOT)*
CDC recommends the use of DOT for treatment of TB patients whenever possible.1 Among cases reported in 2015, the most recent year for which case completion data are available, 65.1% of TB patients received DOT exclusively and an additional 28.5% of patients received a combination of DOT and self-administered therapy. These percentages have been stable since 2011 (Table 10). Many TB programs are exploring alternatives to traditional DOT, such as the use of videoconferencing or other electronic means of monitoring medication adherence; however, NTSS does not currently distinguish these alternative strategies from traditional DOT.
*Completion of Treatment*
Among patients expected to complete TB treatment within 1 year of diagnosis, 89.5% completed therapy within 1 year (Table 10). An additional 6.3% (total of 95.8%) of these individuals eventually completed treatment (Table 10). Among persons with TB reported in 2015, a total of 8,133 (87.6%) completed treatment, 572 (6.2%) died before completing treatment, and the remainder discontinued treatment for other reasons (Table 12).
Among TB cases reported in 2015, a total of 792 (8.7%) died either before treatment could be started, or after starting treatment but before completing treatment (Table 13). Among those who died, 281 (35.5%) were reported as having died because of TB disease or the adverse effects of TB treatment (Table 13).
Molecular Surveillance
*Genotype Clusters*
TB genotyping is a laboratory-based analysis used to characterize a small portion of the genetic material of bacteria belonging to the *M. tuberculosis* complex. TB genotype clusters are defined in this report as ≥2 cases with matching genotypes in the same county during a 3-year time period. CDC identified clusters among 20.3% of genotyped cases during 2015–2017 (Table 24). Clusters are classified into alert levels based on a log-likelihood ratio (LLR) calculation; clusters with an LLR ≥5 are classified as a medium alert level and clusters with an LLR ≥10 are classified as a high alert level. While not all clustered cases result from recent transmission, clusters with high or medium alert levels could represent TB outbreaks.2 During 2015–2017, 17.6% of clustered cases were part of high-alert clusters and 24.3% of clustered cases were part of medium-alert clusters (Table 24).
*Estimates of Recent Transmission*
This is the second annual TB surveillance report that provides national estimates of recent transmission and extensive recent transmission. CDC attributes a TB case to recent transmission if a plausible source case with a matching genotype is identified within a specified geographic radius and has a diagnosis within 2 years prior to the case (see Estimates of Recent Transmission, 2016–2017 section for more details).3 Nationally, CDC attributed 1,787 (13.1%) of 13,650 genotyped cases reported during 2016–2017 to recent transmission (Table 57, Figure 1). These 1,787 cases are further attributed to extensive recent transmission if a plausible chain of transmission of ≥6 cases, including the plausible source case and 4 or more other cases within 3 years before a given case in the chain, is identified (see Estimates of Recent Transmission, 2016–2017 section).4 Nationally, 4.6% of genotyped cases are attributed to extensive recent transmission, although state- and county-level estimates vary considerably (Tables 57 and 58). Forty-seven counties or regions had >5% of their genotyped cases attributed to extensive recent transmission during 2016–2017 (Table 58, Figure 2). Greater proportions of cases attributed to recent transmission and extensive recent transmission were identified among certain racial groups and among persons with social and behavioral risk factors, as compared with national averages (Table 59).
Conclusions
TB remains a serious problem in the United States even though it is both preventable and curable. Persons with TB are in every state, in rural areas and cities, in schools, workplaces, homes, and many other places where people are in close contact.
TB elimination (defined as <1 TB case per 1 million persons) would have widespread health, economic, and social benefits in the United States. The overall number of TB cases and the TB incidence rate in the United States decreased from 2016 to 2017. While the United States continues to make slow progress toward TB elimination, statistical modeling suggests that new and expanded approaches will be required to achieve TB elimination in the United States.5,6
Several interventions have been proposed to accelerate the decline in U.S. TB incidence, including increasing testing and treatment for latent TB infection (LTBI) in high-risk populations, enhancing detection of TB cases to reduce transmission through the provision of treatment as prevention, and improving TB treatment regimens to increase the proportion of TB cases that successfully complete treatment. An epidemiologic model of each of these potential interventions estimated that increasing screening and treatment for LTBI in high-risk populations would result in the greatest reductions of any single intervention in LTBI prevalence and TB disease incidence.6
To this end, CDC has placed additional emphasis on efforts to identify and treat LTBI. Among these efforts are the implementation of case-based sentinel surveillance for LTBI, evaluation of existing data sources (e.g., administrative claims data and electronic health records) for utility in estimating LTBI prevalence, and improvements in LTBI treatment such as the expansion of the recommendation for the short-course isoniazid-rifapentine regimen to be used in persons 2 years of age and older and in persons coinfected with HIV who are able to take rifapentine, as well as for use of the regimen by self-administered therapy or directly observed therapy.7ReferencesNahid P, Dorman SE, Alipanah N, et al. Official American Thoracic Society/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Infectious Diseases Society of America Clinical Practice Guidelines: Treatment of Drug-Susceptible Tuberculosis. *Clin Infect Dis* 2016;63: 853–867.
Ghosh S, Moonan PK, Cowan L, Grant J, Kammerer S, Navin TR. Tuberculosis genotyping information management system: enhancing tuberculosis surveillance in the United States. *Infect Genet Evol* 2012;12:782–8.
France AM, Grant J, Kammerer JS, Navin TR. A field-validated approach using surveillance and genotyping data to estimate tuberculosis attributable to recent transmission in the United States. *Am J Epidemiol* 2015;182:799–807.
Yuen CM, Kammerer JS, Marks K, Navin TR, France AM. Recent Transmission of Tuberculosis – United States, 2011-2014. *PLoS One* 2016;11(4).
Hill AN, Becerra J, Castro KG. Modelling tuberculosis trends in the USA. *Epidemiol Infect* 2012;140:1862–1872.
Menzies NA, Cohen T, Hill AN, et al. Prospects for Tuberculosis Elimination in the United States: Results of a Transmission Dynamic Model. *Am J Epidemiol* 2018:187(9):2011–2020.
Borisov AS, Bamrah Morris S, Njie GJ, et al. Update of Recommendations for Use of Once-Weekly Isoniazid-Rifapentine Regimen to Treat Latent *Mycobacterium tuberculosis* Infection. *MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep* 2018;67:723–726.
							
					
						Page last reviewed:  October 22, 2018					Content source: 	Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention homeTuberculosisBasic TB Factsplus iconHow TB SpreadsLatent TB Infection and TB DiseaseSigns & SymptomsTB Risk FactorsExposure to TBTB PreventionVaccinesTB & HIV CoinfectionTB and DiabetesTB TermsPersonal StoriesTesting & Diagnosisplus iconWho Should be TestedTesting for TB InfectionTesting in BCG-Vaccinated PersonsTB Screening and Testing of Health Care PersonnelTesting During PregnancyDiagnosing latent TB infection and TB diseaseTreatmentplus iconDeciding When to Treat Latent TB InfectionTreatment Regimens for Latent TB Infection (LTBI)Treatment for TB DiseaseAdverse EventsTB Treatment of Persons Living with HIVTB Treatment and PregnancyTB Treatment for ChildrenFrequently Asked QuestionsDrug-Resistant TBResearchplus iconTB Epidemiologic Studies Consortiumplus iconResearch ProjectsPublicationsTB Trials Consortiumplus iconStudy DescriptionsBackgroundBehavioral & Social Science ResearchHealth Care Settingsplus iconTB Infection Control in Health Care SettingsResources for TB Screening and Testing of Health Care Personnelplus iconFrequently Asked QuestionsTB in Specific Populationsplus iconHealth DisparitiesAsian PersonsBlack or African American PersonsHispanic or Latino PersonsChildrenPregnancyCorrectional FacilitiesPeople Experiencing HomelessnessInternational TravelersLaboratory Informationplus iconDrug Susceptibility TestingFalse-Positive Investigation ToolkitInterim Laboratory Biosafety Guidance for XDR  tuberculosis strainsModel Performance Evaluation Program (MPEP)Rapid Molecular Testing to Detect Drug-Resistant TB in the USplus iconExecutive SummaryIntroductionBackground on Tests for Molecular Detection of DRGeneral Considerations and Principles for a Molecular DR Testing ServicePossible Scenarios and Scope of Testing for a Molecular DR Testing ServiceResearch NeedsGeneral Recommendations of the Expert PanelCommunication Plan for the ReportRecommendationsReferencesPanel Members and CDC ParticipantsAppendix 1Appendix 2Appendix 3The Uses of Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests for the Diagnosis of TBplus iconGeneral ConsiderationsGeneral Recommendations of the Expert PanelRecommendations to ACET, CDC, DTBEData & Statisticsplus iconTB Incidence in the United StatesReported TB in the US, 2022 Surveillance Reportplus iconNational DataReporting Area DataRisk FactorsDemographicsTB Treatment and Case OutcomesDrug-Resistant TBMolecular SurveillanceTuberculosis in the United States, 2022 (Slide Set)Archived Surveillance Reports and Slide Sets2021 State and City ReportArchived State and City ReportsProfessional Resources & Toolsplus iconTools for Healthcare ProvidersResources for TB Programsplus iconStrengthening Civil Surgeons’ Capacity to Improve LTBI Surveillance and Outcomes Among Status AdjustersNotice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)Program EvaluationTB Centers of ExcellenceTB Elimination AllianceTB Genotypingplus iconConventional TB GenotypingWhole Genome SequencingTB GIMSAnalytic ToolsLatent Tuberculosis Infection ResourcesPublications & Productsplus iconPatient and Public MaterialsFact SheetsGuidelinesplus iconControl & EliminationDrug-Resistant TBInfection Control & PreventionLaboratory & GenotypingTB & HIVTB in Specific PopulationsTesting & DiagnosisTreatmentVaccines & ImmunizationsArchived TB GuidelinesGuides & Toolkitsplus iconAggregate ReportsCDC TB Surveillance TrainingCore CurriculumEffective TB Interviewing for Contact InvestigationEthnographic GuidesFalse-Positive Investigation ToolkitForging Partnerships to Eliminate TuberculosisGuide to Application of GenotypingLTBI: A Guide for Primary Health Care ProvidersMantoux Tuberculin Skin Testing ProductsReport of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT)Self-Study ModulesTB Contact Investigation Interviewing Skills CourseTB eDOT ToolkitUnderstanding the TB Cohort Review ProcessNewslettersplus iconTB Notes, No. 4, 2023TB Notes, No. 3, 2023TB Notes. No. 2, 2023TB Notes. No. 1, 2023TB Notes, No. 4, 2022TB Notes, No. 3, 2022TB Notes, No. 2, 2022TB Notes, No. 1, 2022TB Notes, No. 4, 2021TB Notes, No. 3, 2021TB Notes, No. 2, 2021TB Notes, No. 1, 2021Pamphlets, Brochures, Bookletsplus iconQuestions and AnswersPatient Education SeriesTuberculosis - Get the FactsTuberculosis - The Connection between TB and HIV12-Dose Regimen for Latent TB Infection-Patient Education BrochurePostersplus iconMantoux Tuberculin Skin Test Wall ChartWorld TB DayThink TBStop TBTake on TBReports & Articlesplus iconDTBE Authored Journal ArticlesTuberculosis Laboratory Aggregate ReportsSlide Setsplus iconIntroduction to TuberculosisEpidemiology of Tuberculosis Among Non-U.S.​–Born Persons in the United States, 1993–2016Self-Study Modules on Tuberculosis, 1-5 Slide SetsThe Tuberculosis (TB) in Correctional Settingsplus iconFacilitator GuideIntroduction to TB GenotypingEpidemiology of Tuberculosis in Correctional Facilities, United States, 1993-2017Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis in Correctional and Detention FacilitiesGuidelines for Preventing the Transmission of M. TB in Health care SettingsInvestigation of Contacts of Persons with Infectious TBEpidemiology of Pediatric Tuberculosis in the United StatesTargeted Tuberculosis Testing and Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis InfectionElectronic Tools & ResourcesWeb-Based Courses & Webinarsplus iconTB 101 for Health Care WorkersContent SyndicationInfographicsplus iconSocial Media GraphicsCustomizable Take on TB Infographic with InstructionsEventsWorld TB Dayplus iconU.S. TB ChampionsHistoryFeaturesplus iconTB Risk FactorsTreating Latent TB Infection with Short-Course RegimensWorld Tuberculosis (TB) Day 2021World Tuberculosis (TB) Day 2020Linksplus iconState TB Control OfficesAbout Usplus iconMission Statement and Activitiesplus iconDTBE Strategic PlanNational TB Program ObjectivesOrganization ChartAdvisory Groupsplus iconFederal TB Task Force To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: Email Address			What's this?				Submit


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