SCREENING FOR TUBERCULOSIS IN AN EAST LONDON HIV CLINIC

A prospective study was carried out to assess the value of routine ski n tuberculin testing and chest radiography in HIV seropositive patient s, attending the Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) clinic between July 1991 -May 1992. 144 consecutive HIV seropositive patients had tuberculin Ti ne tests and chest radiographs performed. Ten patients were treated fo r active tuberculosis (TB) on the basis of abnormal radiography with o r without strongly positive (Grade 3/4) skin tuberculin tests. A furth er 10 patients received prophylaxis on the basis of abnormal chest rad iography consistent with previous tuberculous infection or strongly po sitive tuberculin tests. Active or previous tuberculous infection was found in the UK born Caucasian homosexual population as well as in inj ecting drug users and patients who were born in areas of high TB preva lence. Screening for TB in HIV seropositive patients is important both for detecting asymptomatic tuberculous infection and for recognizing patients at risk for reactivation of latent TB. We showed a high pick- up rate with 20 out of 144 patients having treatment as a result of sc reening.