Influence of the human immunodeficiency virus in the incidence of tuberculosis in a cohort of intravenous drug users: Effectiveness of anti- tuberculosis chemoprophylaxis

Josep M. Jansà, J. Serrano, J. A. Caylà, R. Vidal, I. Ocaña, T. Español

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

SETTING: A residential program in Barcelona for drug addicts (therapeutic community) admitted between November 1988 and March 1992, and followed until September 1994. OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence of tuberculosis as related to the presence of tuberculosis infection and/or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and to evaluate the protective effect of chemoprophylaxis with isoniazid. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. Incidence rates were compared using the Chi-square test for cohort studies. The effectiveness of chemoprophylaxis was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method at the univariate level, and by logistic regression models and proportional risks analysis at the multivariate level. RESULTS: During the study of 361 individuals without previous known tuberculosis or history of anti-tuberculosis chemoprophylaxis, 25 developed tuberculosis, an overall incidence rate of 1.79/100 person-years. For HIV-positive persons, the incidence rate was 3.25/100 person-years, compared with 0.30/100 in those who were HIV-negative (P < 0.05). The highest incidence rates occurred along HIV- positive persons who did not receive chemoprophylaxis and who were either anergic (HIV-positive, purifled protein derivative [PPD]-negative, Multitest- negative) or who were infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (PPD+), 10.0/100 person-years and 4.64/100 personyears, respectively. Of the 53 persons who received chemoprophylaxis, three developed tuberculosis, an incidence rate of 1.4/100 person-years. In comparison, in the group of 51 patients who were designated to receive chemoprophylaxis but where none was actually taken, 17 developed tuberculosis, an incidence rate of 5.7/100 personyears (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: HIV-infected intravenous drug users, particularly those who are anergic or who are PPD positive, are at increased risk of developing tuberculosis. Anti-tuberculosis chemoprophylaxis proved effective in this population.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)140-146
Number of pages7
JournalInternational Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
Volume2
Issue number2
StatePublished - Mar 31 1998

Keywords

  • HIV
  • IVDU
  • Tuberculosis chemoprophylaxis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases

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