Evaluation and Assessment for Communicable Diseases in Migrants Hosted in Reception Centers

REACH - Responsive Evaluation and Assessment for Communicable Diseases in Migrants Hosted in Reception Centers

A single-centre, non-profit experimental clinical trial. The aim of the study is to estimate the prevalence of a range of infections and infectious diseases in a cohort of asylum seekers staying in initial reception centres, who have been in Italy for at least 2 months but no more than 36 months. The infections of interest are: latent tuberculosis and active tuberculosis, HIV, HBV, HCV, syphilis, strongyloidiasis, schistosomiasis, filariasis, and intestinal helminthiasis.

A single-centre, non-profit experimental clinical trial. The aim of the study is to estimate the prevalence of a range of infections and infectious diseases in a cohort of asylum seekers staying in initial reception centres, who have been in Italy for at least 2 months but no more than 36 months. The infections of interest are: latent tuberculosis and active tuberculosis, HIV, HBV, HCV, syphilis, strongyloidiasis, schistosomiasis, filariasis, and intestinal helminthiasis.

All migrants will undergo, on a single occasion:

• Medical history: travel history, focusing primarily on identifying the migration route; recent and past medical history, with the aim of identifying risk factors, signs and symptoms of the main communicable and non-communicable diseases;
• Measurement of vital signs (blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate) and weight;
• Physical examination;
• Blood sampling for the following tests: complete blood count with differential, ALT, creatinine + eGFR, urea, blood glucose; serology for HCV, HIV, Treponema, HBV marker, Quantiferon test, Strongyloides serology, Schistosoma serology (if indicated), filarial serology (if indicated);
• Urine collection for a complete urinalysis and a urological parasitological examination (if indicated);
• Stool collection for a faecal parasitological examination

Inclusion Criteria:

• All asylum seekers residing in reception centers who are 18 years of age or older, have been in Italy for at least 2 months but no more than 36 months, who express their consent to undergo screening.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals under the age of 18; Asylum seekers who have been in Italy for less than 2 months or for more than 36 months; Refusal to consent to participate in the study