[COMPARISON OF TUBERCULOSIS SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS IN JAPAN AND LOW-INCIDENCE COUNTRIES: REPORTING DATA ITEMS]

[Objective] To compare the tuberculosis (TB) surveillance systems of Japan and low TB-incidence western countries in terms of reported data items. [Method] We conducted a descriptive comparative study for TB surveillance systems in Japan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Data items reported by the surveillance systems were collected and summarized by the categories prepared by the authors. Additionally, relevant published data were collected. [Result] The data items collected in each country surveyed was around 40 categories, among which 21 categories were common to the all surveyed countries. Regarding data items collected from the surveyed countries other than Japan, information related to risk factors such as drug addiction, imprisonment history, and history of residence in nursing home; TB genotype; and contact investigation were available in the surveillance system. In Japan, treatment outcomes are automatically determined by a preset algorithm, which leads to high percentage of outcomes not being evaluated. [Conclusion] Potential suggestions for the Japanese TB surveillance system are reconsidering risk factor items, collecting and evaluating contact investigation information through the surveillance system, adding genotype information, and introducing manual assessment of treatment outcome.