Prevalence of IGRA-positivity and risk factors for tuberculosis among injecting drug users in Estonia and Latvia

Kristi Rüütel; Anda Karnite; Ave Talu; Katri Abel-Ollo; Gunta Kirvelaite; Kai Kliiman; Helle-Mai Loit; Anneli Uusküla

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2013.10.002

Prevalence of IGRA-positivity and risk factors for tuberculosis among injecting drug users in Estonia and Latvia

Kristi Rüütel, Anda Karnite, Ave Talu, Katri Abel-Ollo, Gunta Kirvelaite, Kai Kliiman, Helle-Mai Loit, Anneli Uusküla

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Illegal drug use and HIV are independent risk factors for tuberculosis (TB) among injecting drug users (IDU). Estonia and Latvia have experienced high rates of TB as well as IDU and HIV outbreaks. There is a lack of knowledge about TB among IDUs in these countries. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection among IDUs in Estonia and Latvia.

METHODS: Participants for this cross-sectional study were recruited from syringe exchange programmes using respondent-driven sampling. For assessing infection with MTB interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) was used.

RESULTS: The study included 375 participants from Estonia and 313 from Latvia. The prevalence of IGRA-positivity among IDUs was 7.7% in Estonia and 25.6% in Latvia. HIV-prevalence was 62% in Estonia and 23% in Latvia. In both countries, IGRA-positivity rates did not differ between HIV-positive and HIV-negative participants. IGRA-positivity was independently associated with a prior diagnosis of TB in Estonia and with imprisonment (ever within a lifetime) and preceding contact with a TB patient in Latvia.

CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate there is an urgent need for a more vigorous approach in providing IDUs with TB screening services.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	175-178
Number of pages	4
Journal	International Journal of Drug Policy
Volume	25
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2013.10.002
Publication status	Published - Jan 2014

Keywords*

Adolescent
Adult
Cross-Sectional Studies
Estonia/epidemiology
Female
HIV Seroprevalence
Humans
Interferon-gamma/blood
Latvia/epidemiology
Male
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Substance Abuse, Intravenous/blood
Tuberculosis/blood
Young Adult

Field of Science*

3.3 Health sciences

Publication Type*

1.3. Anonymously reviewed scientific article published in a journal with an international editorial board and is available in another indexed database

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.drugpo.2013.10.002

Cite this

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title = "Prevalence of IGRA-positivity and risk factors for tuberculosis among injecting drug users in Estonia and Latvia",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Illegal drug use and HIV are independent risk factors for tuberculosis (TB) among injecting drug users (IDU). Estonia and Latvia have experienced high rates of TB as well as IDU and HIV outbreaks. There is a lack of knowledge about TB among IDUs in these countries. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection among IDUs in Estonia and Latvia.METHODS: Participants for this cross-sectional study were recruited from syringe exchange programmes using respondent-driven sampling. For assessing infection with MTB interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) was used.RESULTS: The study included 375 participants from Estonia and 313 from Latvia. The prevalence of IGRA-positivity among IDUs was 7.7% in Estonia and 25.6% in Latvia. HIV-prevalence was 62% in Estonia and 23% in Latvia. In both countries, IGRA-positivity rates did not differ between HIV-positive and HIV-negative participants. IGRA-positivity was independently associated with a prior diagnosis of TB in Estonia and with imprisonment (ever within a lifetime) and preceding contact with a TB patient in Latvia.CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate there is an urgent need for a more vigorous approach in providing IDUs with TB screening services.",

keywords = "Adolescent, Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Estonia/epidemiology, Female, HIV Seroprevalence, Humans, Interferon-gamma/blood, Latvia/epidemiology, Male, Middle Aged, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Substance Abuse, Intravenous/blood, Tuberculosis/blood, Young Adult",

author = "Kristi R{\"u}{\"u}tel and Anda Karnite and Ave Talu and Katri Abel-Ollo and Gunta Kirvelaite and Kai Kliiman and Helle-Mai Loit and Anneli Uusk{\"u}la",

year = "2014",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1016/j.drugpo.2013.10.002",

language = "English",

volume = "25",

pages = "175--178",

journal = "International Journal of Drug Policy",

issn = "0955-3959",

publisher = "Elsevier",

number = "1",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Prevalence of IGRA-positivity and risk factors for tuberculosis among injecting drug users in Estonia and Latvia

AU - Rüütel, Kristi

AU - Karnite, Anda

AU - Talu, Ave

AU - Abel-Ollo, Katri

AU - Kirvelaite, Gunta

AU - Kliiman, Kai

AU - Loit, Helle-Mai

AU - Uusküla, Anneli

PY - 2014/1

Y1 - 2014/1

N2 - BACKGROUND: Illegal drug use and HIV are independent risk factors for tuberculosis (TB) among injecting drug users (IDU). Estonia and Latvia have experienced high rates of TB as well as IDU and HIV outbreaks. There is a lack of knowledge about TB among IDUs in these countries. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection among IDUs in Estonia and Latvia.METHODS: Participants for this cross-sectional study were recruited from syringe exchange programmes using respondent-driven sampling. For assessing infection with MTB interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) was used.RESULTS: The study included 375 participants from Estonia and 313 from Latvia. The prevalence of IGRA-positivity among IDUs was 7.7% in Estonia and 25.6% in Latvia. HIV-prevalence was 62% in Estonia and 23% in Latvia. In both countries, IGRA-positivity rates did not differ between HIV-positive and HIV-negative participants. IGRA-positivity was independently associated with a prior diagnosis of TB in Estonia and with imprisonment (ever within a lifetime) and preceding contact with a TB patient in Latvia.CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate there is an urgent need for a more vigorous approach in providing IDUs with TB screening services.

AB - BACKGROUND: Illegal drug use and HIV are independent risk factors for tuberculosis (TB) among injecting drug users (IDU). Estonia and Latvia have experienced high rates of TB as well as IDU and HIV outbreaks. There is a lack of knowledge about TB among IDUs in these countries. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection among IDUs in Estonia and Latvia.METHODS: Participants for this cross-sectional study were recruited from syringe exchange programmes using respondent-driven sampling. For assessing infection with MTB interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) was used.RESULTS: The study included 375 participants from Estonia and 313 from Latvia. The prevalence of IGRA-positivity among IDUs was 7.7% in Estonia and 25.6% in Latvia. HIV-prevalence was 62% in Estonia and 23% in Latvia. In both countries, IGRA-positivity rates did not differ between HIV-positive and HIV-negative participants. IGRA-positivity was independently associated with a prior diagnosis of TB in Estonia and with imprisonment (ever within a lifetime) and preceding contact with a TB patient in Latvia.CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate there is an urgent need for a more vigorous approach in providing IDUs with TB screening services.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Estonia/epidemiology

KW - Female

KW - HIV Seroprevalence

KW - Humans

KW - Interferon-gamma/blood

KW - Latvia/epidemiology

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Prevalence

KW - Risk Factors

KW - Substance Abuse, Intravenous/blood

KW - Tuberculosis/blood

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DO - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2013.10.002

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SN - 0955-3959

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SP - 175

EP - 178

JO - International Journal of Drug Policy

JF - International Journal of Drug Policy

IS - 1

ER -

Prevalence of IGRA-positivity and risk factors for tuberculosis among injecting drug users in Estonia and Latvia

Abstract

Keywords*

Field of Science*

Publication Type*

UN SDGs

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