Background: Incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in the Czech Republic (CR) during the year 2000 was evaluated on the basis of newly detected cases as well the restriction of known TB sources by antituberculosis treatment. Data from compulsory reported TB cases in the TB register for the year 2000 were used as well as data from the analysis of treatment in cohorts of patients reported quarterly in 1999 and evaluated 12 months later.
Methods and results: 1442 cases of new diseases and TB relapses were reported in 2000 (14.1/100,00). 1244 cases (12.1/100,000) were TB of the respiratory system, 198 cases (2.0/100,000) belonged to the extra-respiratory TB. 61.9% of cases were bacteriologically verified TB of the respiratory system. In comparison with the year 1999, the number of TB cases was lower by 11.7%, respectively by 9.3% in TB of the respiratory system. The positive trend in TB incidence recorded in CR since 1998 has continued. From 1442 cases of the TB, 916 were males (63.5%) and 526 females (36.5%). Majority of patients was older than 65 years. 143 (9.9%) of TB cases were patients born extra CR ("foreigners"), namely coming from Ukraine (41), Vietnam (16), and Romania (14). 74 patients died of tuberculosis, mostly those older than 65 years. The youngest was the 24-year-old Ukrainian and a 38 year old homeless person, the citizen of CR. The highest incidence of TB was in West Bohemia, in Prague and in North Moravia; the lowest incidence was in South Moravia and in South Bohemia. TB was identified because of patient's troubles (68.0%), in the risk groups (13.3%), and by examination of contact persons (4.7%). Other mycobacteriosis than TB was identified in 92 patients. The treatment was evaluated in 606 persons with the pulmonary TB, which was bacteriologically verified; analysis was done in cohorts of patients reported quarterly in 1999. 70.1 to 77.5% of patients in individual cohorts were successfully treated, in 3 patients the treatment failed and 9 patients interrupted the treatment. Remaining 25% of patients either died before or during the treatment. The high mortality rate resulted from the high age and other diseases in some of the patients.
Conclusions: WHO includes CR between countries with low TB incidence. Within the stabile population of CR the continuous decrease of TB incidence should continue, unless some unfavourable effects occur.