[Tuberculosis in Central Europe. Comparison of the present situation and development of tuberculosis in the Czech Republic and in Germany 1991-1993].

Comparison of the position as regards tuberculosis in the Czech Republic (CR) and in the Federal German Republic (FRG), two neighbouring countries of the Central European region was made possible by an approximation of systems of health services in the two countries and by the common effort to standardize definitions of indicators of the epidemiological situation as regards tuberculosis according to international recommendations. The relative number of newly assessed diseases of all forms and at all sites was equal in the two countries in 1993 and did not differ significantly during the past three years. No significant differences were found on comparison of indicators of incidence classified by bacteriological confirmation, site and age distribution. In the GRF the position as regards TB during the past three years is considered stabilized without apparent changes; the same applies also to the CR. In the GRF TB in the domestic population (German population) and foreigners is evaluated separately, as foreigners account for 7.3% of the prevalence. Tuberculosis of foreigners influences in a significant way the general incidence in the GRF, in particular in younger age groups. It is due to the adverse situation as regards TB in countries from which immigrants come. Logistic comparison of indicators of the incidence revealed that the traditional stabilized system of health services in the GRF as well as the newly introduced system in the CR are biased by the same error as regards mandatory notification of all new cases of TB. The findings make it possible to assess priorities specific for the Central European area in the amended system of surveillance of TB in the CR.