Prevalence and risk factors for positive tuberculin skin tests among active drug users at a syringe exchange program

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence and predictors of tuberculin skin te st (TST) reactions greater than or equal to 10 mm among active injection dr ug users (IDUs) at a syringe exchange program in New York City. METHODS: From August 1995 to January 1996, participants were offered TB scr eening, an interview and received $15.00 upon returning for skin test inter pretation. RESULTS: 610/650 (94%) consented to screening. Of the 566 (93%) who returne d for skin test readings, skin test data were available for 564 (99.8%); 14 % (95%CI 11.6-17.1) had TSTs greater than or equal to 10 mm. When the great er than or equal to 5 mm threshold for interpretation of TST among HIV-infe cted persons was used, the prevalence of TST positivity increased by only 1 %. In univariate analysis, the prevalence of TST greater than or equal to 1 0 mm increased with age and with increasing years of IDU (both P = 0.001). Because of a strong correlation between age and duration of IDU, two logist ic regression models were examined. In the model with age alone, a history of self-reported TST positivity (OR 8.88; 95%CI 4.9-16.09; P = 0.0001) and increasing age (OR per 10 years increase in age, 1.69; 95%CI 1.24-2.29; P = 0.0008) were independent predictors of TSTs greater than or equal to 10 mm . In the model with duration of IDU, a history of TST positivity (OR 8.82; 95%CI 4.74;1-16.41; P = 0.0001) and duration of IDU (OR per 10 years of IDU , 1.46; 95%CI 1.10-1.94; P = 0.0081) were independent predictors of TST gre ater than or equal to 10 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the reduced cutoff point for TST positivity from 10 mm to 5 mm did not significantly affect the prevalence of positive TSTs in thi s cohort of active drug users. Increased prevalence of TB infection with ag e suggests a high annual incidence of TB infection in this population, and the increased risk of TB infection with increasing duration of IDU suggests that the duration spent in IDU environments may increase infection risk.