Two-step tuberculin skin testing in drug users

J Addict Dis. 2007;26(2):71-9. doi: 10.1300/J069v26n02_09.

Abstract

To assess the utility of booster testing and to identify factors associated with a positive booster test, two-step tuberculin testing was performed in drug users recruited from methadone treatment. Participants also received a standardized interview on demographics and testing for HIV and CD4+ lymphocyte count. Of 619 enrollees completing the protocol, 174 (28%) had a positive PPD and 24 of the remaining 445 (5%) had a positive booster test. On multivariate analysis, boosting was associated with older age (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj] 2.38/decade, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34-4.22), history of using crack cocaine (ORadj 2.61, 95% CI 1.10-6.18) and a history of working as a home health aide (ORadj 4.23, 95% CI 1.39-12.86). Two-step tuberculin skin testing increased the proportion of participants with latent tuberculosis infection from 22% to 25%. Given the effectiveness of chemoprophylaxis, booster testing should be considered when drug users are screened for tuberculosis infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / diagnosis
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / epidemiology
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / prevention & control
  • Adult
  • Alcoholism / epidemiology*
  • Alcoholism / rehabilitation
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • HIV Seropositivity / diagnosis
  • HIV Seropositivity / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Methadone / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Narcotics / therapeutic use
  • New York City
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / rehabilitation
  • Risk Factors
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Tuberculin Test / methods*
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / epidemiology*
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / prevention & control

Substances

  • Narcotics
  • Methadone