{
  "abstract": "Background: Tuberculosis (TB) in low-incidence European settings disproportionately affects structurally vulnerable populations, including individuals living in informal housing. In late 2023, a TB cluster was identified among residents of an occupied building in Badalona, Spain. We report the implementation and outcomes of a community-based active TB screening intervention conducted in response.\n\nMethods: We conducted a descriptive field investigation between October 2024 and February 2025 in an occupied former school that served as a residence and social hub for approximately 150 individuals (residents and non-resident community members). Three on-site interventions combined health education, symptom-based screening, and clinical assessment. Individuals with TB-compatible symptoms were referred for chest radiography and microbiological testing (smear microscopy, culture, and Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra) according to national protocols. WHO-recommended screening cascade indicators were calculated. Additional TB cases epidemiologically linked to the settlement were identified through surveillance data.\n\nFindings: Eighty-one individuals were screened (54% of approximately 150 individuals connected to the settlement). Twelve presumptive TB cases were identified; all completed diagnostic evaluation. Three new TB cases were diagnosed through screening (number needed to screen = 27; number needed to test = 4). Two started treatment, and both completed it and were cured; the third never started treatment and was lost to follow-up. Overall, 11 TB cases were epidemiologically linked to the settlement (10 bacteriologically confirmed and one clinically diagnosed). The intervention also facilitated linkage to primary healthcare services. Operational challenges included high mobility, incomplete population enumeration, limited transport support, and institutional mistrust.\n\nInterpretation: Active TB transmission can persist in informal urban settlements in low-incidence settings. Community-based outreach screening is feasible but operationally fragile and dependent on timely identification, institutional coordination, and social support to ensure adequate coverage and continuity of care.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Sant Roc Primary Care Center, Catalan Health Institute",
    "Research Support Unit Metropolitana Nord, Primary Care Research Institut Jordi Gol (IDIAPJGol)",
    "Departament of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona",
    "Epidemiological Surveillance Service of Barcelonès Nord and Maresme. Secretaria de Salut Pública. Departament de Salut. Generalitat de Catalunya.",
    "Department of Infectious Diseases, Public Health and Community Team (eSPiC), Drassanes-Vall d’Hebron International Health Unit (USIDVH), Vall d’Hebron University Hospital",
    "International Health Unit of North Metropolitan Barcelona, Territorial Directorate for Infectious Diseases, Catalan Institute for Health",
    "Fundació Lluita Contra les Infeccions",
    "Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital and Research Institute (HUGTIP-IGTP)",
    "Microbiology Department, North Metropolitan Clinical Laboratory, Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital",
    "Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) Enfermedades Respiratorias"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 23,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Clara Flamarich-Gol"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Mar Bosch-Arís"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Gloria Blázquez"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Alicia Garcia-Circuns"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Baye Elimane Thiaw"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Hakima Ouaarab Essadek"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5,
        6
      ],
      "name": "Sílvia Roure"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Zoran Stojanovic"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Salomé Bellido-Calduch"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Macarena Lovera"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Alba García-Delgado"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Antonia Segura"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Anna Carreres-Molas"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Ignasi Guasch-Arriaga"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7,
        8
      ],
      "name": "Adrià Antuori"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7,
        8
      ],
      "name": "Alba Llop"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7,
        8
      ],
      "name": "Pablo Pillado"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Yolanda Romero"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Olga Antolín"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Jordi Gómez i Prat"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Ignasi Parrón"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Elsa Plasencia"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7,
        8,
        9
      ],
      "name": "Cristina Vilaplana"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9en7qay0pcycc.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fpubh.2026.1907926",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13725769/?tool=EBI",
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  "landing_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1907926/full",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
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    ],
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      "openalex",
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  "pdf_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1907926/pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13725769",
  "pmid": "42973976",
  "published": "2026-10-19",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
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      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2725|Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology",
      "subfield": "infectious-disease"
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  ],
  "title": "Tuberculosis transmission and community outreach screening in an informal urban settlement in a low-incidence European setting",
  "title_text": "Tuberculosis transmission and community outreach screening in an informal urban settlement in a low-incidence European setting",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-06T12:21:53Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9en7qay0pcycc",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Public Health",
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}