BACKGROUND Understanding of the effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and antiretroviral treatment (ART) on Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission dynamics remains limited. We undertook a cross-sectional study among household contacts of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) cases to assess the effect of established ART on the infectiousness of TB. METHOD Prevalence of...

discussion isoniazid chemoprophylaxis dose not completely prevent from tb development. therefore, we should observe and evaluate all the cases that have a history of close contact with smear positive ptb using isoniazid prophylaxis. introduction children, especially those younger than six years old are very susceptible to tuberculosis (tb); therefore, there is need for preventive intervention t...

BACKGROUND The estimated incidence and prevalence of tuberculosis in India are 2.1 and 2.6 million cases respectively. Immunotherapy may shorten tuberculosis treatments and improve the immunity of individuals as well. Hence we study the efficacy of levamisole (LVM) (immunomodulator) as an adjuvant to chemotherapy of pulmonary tuberculosis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS A randomized, double-b...

BACKGROUND Tuberculosis (TB) during pregnancy in HIV-infected women is associated with poor maternal and infant outcomes. There are limited data on TB prevalence, optimal TB screening, and performance of rapid diagnostics in pregnant HIV-infected women. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study among HIV-infected pregnant women seeking antenatal care in western Kenya. After a standardized ...

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to analyze the performance of the tuberculin skin test (TST) for screening and monitoring patients treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor agents, in a high-incidence area. METHODS A 3-year retrospective study was carried out on 268 subjects. The study included 68 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, screened for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI)...

T-lymphocytes previously sensitized by an antigen undergo blastic transformation and produce IFN’r when stimulated by the same antigen. We studied the lymphoblastic response to PPD and IFNT production in pleural fluid and peripheral blood of 41 patients (15 with tuberculosis pleural effusion, 13 with nontuberculous pleurisy and positive tuberculin skin test, and 13 with tuberculin-negative nont...

CONTEXT Universal tuberculin skin testing of children has been shown to be costly and inefficient. In response, several authorities have recommended targeted screening based on epidemiological risk. In 1996, the New York City Department of Health (NYCDOH) developed questions to identify children who require a tuberculin skin test. OBJECTIVE To determine the sensitivity, specificity, and predi...

BACKGROUND Untreated latent TB infection (LTBI) is a significant risk factor for active pulmonary tuberculosis, hence predisposing to adverse pregnancy outcomes and mother to child transmission. The prevalence of latent tuberculosis in pregnancy and its association, if any, with various socio-demographic, obstetric and clinical characteristics was evaluated. METHODS Northern Tanzania was chos...