Tuberculosis surveillance in the United States: Case definitions used by state health departments

Health departments in all 53 reporting areas in the United States were asked to submit the case definition they used for tuberculosis surveillance. Sixteen areas used the 1999 case definition; two areas sent 1977 guidelines; and 34 areas sent other definitions. Case reports sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1992 were analyzed; 4% of cases did not meet the 1990 definition. Tuberculosis case reporting criteria are not uniformly applied in the United States. CDC, in collaboration with state and local health officials, is evaluating the current definition and will implement uniform national criteria for tuberculosis surveillance.