Prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection among injection drug users in Toronto

Background: Injection drug users are at increased risk of Mycobacterium tub erculosis infection and active tuberculosis (TB). The primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of M. tuberculosis infection amo ng injection drug users in Toronto, as indicated by a positive tuberculin s kin test result. An additional objective was to identify predictors of a po sitive skin test result in this population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving self-selected in jection drug users in the city of Toronto. A total of 171 participants were recruited through a downtown Toronto needle-exchange program from June 1 t o Oct. 31, 1996. Results: Of 167 subjects tested, 155 (92.8%) returned for interpretation of their skin test result within the designated timeframe (48 to 72 hours). U sing a 5-mm cutoff, the prevalence rate of positive tuberculin skin test re sults was 31.0% (95% confidence interval 23.8% to 38.9%). Birth outside of Canada and increasing age were both predictive of a positive result. Interpretation: There is a high burden of M. tuberculosis infection in this population of injection drug users. The compliance observed with returning for interpretation of skin test results indicates that successful TB scree ning is possible among injection drug users.