Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MTB) is an important problem for HIV/AIDS patients who are at increased risk for both primary infection and reactivation. This study was to determine if all cases of MTB that were reported to the HIV/AIDS Registry (HARS) in Missouri were also reported to the Tuberculosis Information Management System (TIMS) in order to determine the sensitivity of TIMS and the predictive value of HARS. For the years 1987 through 1999 we found 262 total MTB cases registered in HARS. Of these, 145 (55%) were included in TIMS. Of the remaining 117, 38 were caused by Mycobacterium other than TB (MOTT) leaving 79 for further investigation. Subsequent chart review of the 79 revealed 9 with a history of MTB, 16 with MOTT, 12 without TB, 10 with TB infection, 3 MTB registered in States other then Missouri, 13 that were either unknown or unrecoverable (UNK/UNR), and 16 cases of MTB. Sensitivities and predictive values were calculated first including UNK/UNR group as being MTB positive and the second including the UNK/UNR group as being MTB negative. Sensitivities for TIMS were 83% and 90% respectively and predictive values for HARS were 67.6% and 63% respectively. At least 16 unreported cases of MTB in TIMS has significant public health implications for TB control in Missouri. Surveillance staff for HARS should be trained to be MTB case-finders and reporters, and communications between TB and HIV programs within the Missouri Department of Health should be improved.
Learning Objectives: 1) Articulate the importance of unknown TB disease in HIV/AIDS patients 2) Apply epidemiological concepts to assessing the adequacy of communicable disease reporting
Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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