HIV-related tuberculosis: Mortality risk in persons without vs. With culture-confirmed disease

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive persons is difficult, particularly in resource-limited settings. The relationship between TB culture status and mortality in HIV-positive persons treated for TB is unclear. METHODS : We evaluated HIV-positive adults treated for TB at or after their first HIV clinic visit in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Honduras, Mexico or Peru from 2000 to 2015. Anti-tuberculosis treatment included 2 months of isoniazid, rifampicin (RMP)/rifabutin (RBT), pyrazinamide 6 ethambutol, followed by continuation phase treatment with isoniazid + RMP/RBT. RESULTS : Of 759 TB-HIV patients, 238 (31%) were culture-negative, 228 (30%) had unknown culture status or did not undergo culture and 293 (39%) were culturepositive. The median CD4 at TB diagnosis was 96 (interquartile range 40-228); 636 (84%) received concurrent antiretroviral therapy (ART) and antituberculosis treatment. There were 123 (16%) deaths: 90/466