SETTING: New cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) were noted in a cluster of young Caucasian males, an unusual ethnic group for this disease in Queensland, Australia. It was noted that marijuana water pipe ('bong') smoking was common amongst cases and contacts. OBJECTIVE: To report this cluster of TB and to investigate whether shared use of a marijuana water pipe was associated with transmission of TB. DESIGN: All contacts were identified and screened according to standard protocols. Cases were asked to list contacts with whom they had shared a marijuana water pipe. RESULTS: Five cases of open pulmonary TB were identified clinically and on sputum culture, and all isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were identical on typing. Of 149 contacts identified, 114 (77%) completed screening, and 57 (50%) had significant tuberculin skin test (TST) reactions on follow-up. Of 45 contacts who had shared a marijuana water pipe with a case, 29 (64%) had a significant TST reaction. CONCLUSION: Sharing a marijuana water pipe with a case of pulmonary TB was associated with transmission of TB (OR 2.22, 95 % CI 0.96-5.17), although the most important risk factor for acquiring TB infection in this cluster was close household contact with a case (OR 4.91, 95% CI 1.13-20.70).
SETTING: New cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) were noted in a cluster of young Caucasian males, an unusual ethnic group for this disease in Queensland, Australia. It was noted that marijuanawater pipe ('bong') smoking was common amongst cases and contacts. OBJECTIVE: To report this cluster of TB and to investigate whether shared use of a marijuanawater pipe was associated with transmission of TB. DESIGN: All contacts were identified and screened according to standard protocols. Cases were asked to list contacts with whom they had shared a marijuanawater pipe. RESULTS: Five cases of open pulmonary TB were identified clinically and on sputum culture, and all isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were identical on typing. Of 149 contacts identified, 114 (77%) completed screening, and 57 (50%) had significant tuberculin skin test (TST) reactions on follow-up. Of 45 contacts who had shared a marijuanawater pipe with a case, 29 (64%) had a significant TST reaction. CONCLUSION: Sharing a marijuanawater pipe with a case of pulmonary TB was associated with transmission of TB (OR 2.22, 95 % CI 0.96-5.17), although the most important risk factor for acquiring TB infection in this cluster was close household contact with a case (OR 4.91, 95% CI 1.13-20.70).
Authors: Susanne B Montgomery; Maria De Borba-Silva; Pramil Singh; Hildemar Dos Santos; Jayakaran S Job; T L Brink Journal: Calif J Health Promot Date: 2015
Authors: Nada O F Kassem; Sheila R Jackson; Noura O Kassem; Sandy Liles; Alexander Ivan B Posis; Melbourne F Hovell Journal: Am J Health Behav Date: 2019-01-01
Authors: Christopher Welsh; Richard Goldberg; Stephanie Tapscott; Deborah Medoff; Stanley Rosenberg; Lisa Dixon Journal: Am J Addict Date: 2012 Mar-Apr
Authors: Tista Ghosh; Mike Van Dyke; Ali Maffey; Elizabeth Whitley; Laura Gillim-Ross; Larry Wolk Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2015-11-12 Impact factor: 9.308