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. 2014 Feb;46(2):144-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2013.08.023. Epub 2013 Sep 24.

Tuberculosis screening in a novel substance abuse treatment center in Malaysia: implications for a comprehensive approach for integrated care

Haider Abdulrazzaq Abed Al-Darraji  1 , Kee Cheong Wong, David Gan Eng Yeow, Jeannia Jiani Fu, Kelsey Loeliger, Christopher Paiji, Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Frederick L Altice
Affiliations

Tuberculosis screening in a novel substance abuse treatment center in Malaysia: implications for a comprehensive approach for integrated care

Haider Abdulrazzaq Abed Al-Darraji et al. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2014 Feb.

Abstract

People who use drugs (PWUD) represent a key high risk group for tuberculosis (TB). The prevalence of both latent TB infection (LTBI) and active disease in drug treatment centers in Malaysia is unknown. A cross-sectional convenience survey was conducted to assess the prevalence and correlates of LTBI among attendees at a recently created voluntary drug treatment center using a standardized questionnaire and tuberculin skin testing (TST). Participants (N=196) were mostly men (95%), under 40 (median age=36 years) and reported heroin use immediately before treatment entry (75%). Positive TST prevalence was 86.7%. Nine (4.6%) participants were HIV-infected. Previous arrest/incarcerations (AOR=1.1 for every entry, p<0.05) and not being HIV-infected (AOR=6.04, p=0.03) were significantly associated with TST positivity. There is an urgent need to establish TB screening and treatment programs in substance abuse treatment centers and to tailor service delivery to the complex treatment needs of patients with multiple medical and psychiatric co-morbidities.

Keywords: HIV; Integration; Malaysia; Substance use; Tuberculosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

☆ Conflict of interest: None declared.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Participants’ disposition. Legend: TB: tuberculosis; TST: tuberculin skin test.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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