MYCOBACTERIUM-TUBERCULOSIS IN HOUSEHOLD CONTACTS OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1-SEROPOSITIVE PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS IN KINSHASA, ZAIRE

Rates of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis were compared in Ki nshasa, Zaire, in 521 household contacts of 74 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-seropositive index patients and in 692 household contacts of 95 HIV-1-seropositive index patients with sputum smear-pos itive pulmonary tuberculosis: No difference was noted between contacts of HIV-1-seropositive and -seronegative patients. The increasing prev alence of M. tuberculosis infection with increasing age was similar in household contacts of seropositive and seronegative patients; by age 16 years, 75% were purified protein derivative-positive. The similarly low rates of M. tuberculosis infection in household contacts of HIV-1 -seropositive and -seronegative index patients with sputum smear-posit ive pulmonary tuberculosis indicates that HIV-1-seropositive patients with pulmonary tuberculosis are not more infectious than HIV-1-seroneg ative patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.