Infant tuberculosis in Austria--trend reversal since 1990?

Since 1990 a relatively high number of cases of childhood tuberculosis has been observed in Austria, mainly occurring in the age-group of 0-4 years. Within this group most cases were registered in 1995. Since the beginning of 1995 the establishment of a lab-supported nationwide data collection system enables a more detailed recording of the cases diagnosed. Out of the 85 cases with infant tuberculosis registered in 1995 and 1996, 66 were diagnosed with pulmonary manifestation. In 45 cases tuberculosis was proven by culture. In nine (20%) of these cases the most likely route of infection has appeared to be direct transmission from an adult in the same household suffering from culture proven tuberculosis in the same year. For three of the cases the DNA of the isolated Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from the adult and the infant was typed using RFLP analysis. In each case identical strains could be demonstrated.