Tuberculosis as an opportunistic disease in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

Tuberculosis, a bacterial disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, is becoming an increasingly common opportunistic disease in persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). M. tuberculosis is transmitted from person-to-person by airborne droplet nuclei. Persons who are exposed to these droplet nuclei in poorly ventilated environments are at risk of becoming infected with M. tuberculosis. HIV infection is probably the most significant risk factor associated with progression from latent M. tuberculosis infection to active disease. Thus, HIV-infected persons should avoid exposure to M. tuberculosis, they should be screened for evidence of latent infection with the tuberculin skin test, and they should be offered preventive therapy. Because many severely immunosuppressed anergic HIV-infected persons have been found to have an increased risk of developing active tuberculosis, decisions to use preventive therapy should be individualized on the basis of the local prevalence of tuberculosis and drug-resistance patterns. Persons with active tuberculosis should receive at least 6 months of treatment with recommended regimens, preferably with directly observed therapy, to ensure adequate bacteriologic response, completion of therapy, and cure. Chronic suppressive therapy after completion of therapy is currently not recommended.