PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Nana Kiria
AU  - Nino Lomtadze
AU  - Mamuka Japaridze
AU  - Maia Kavtaradze
AU  - Nino Kiria
TI  - Tuberculosis (TB) among intravenous drug users (IDUs) in Georgia
DP  - 2013 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P2856
VI  - 42
IP  - Suppl 57
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P2856.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P2856.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2013 Sep 01; 42
AB  - Background: IDU is widespread problem in Georgia and regardless of HIV status drug users are at increased risk of developing active TB. It is necessary to conduct the screening and effectively address the TB cases among IDUs.Intervention: From January 2010 to December 2012 IDUs were screened for TB symptoms using the special questionnaire at harm reduction and VCT sites to assess the prevalence of TB among IDUs through the screening program. TB suspect cases were referred to TB units for farther investigation and diagnosis.Findings: 7023 IDUs were screened for TB symptoms, 43(0.6%) from them were female and 6980 (99.4%) male. 83(1.2%) from the screened IDU-s were HIV-positive and 3983(56,7%) were diagnosed to have Hepatitis B or C. 638 (8.6%) were classified as TB suspects.265 (3,7%)suspected TB cases were presented at TB units for further examination. TB was diagnosed in 52 (19,6%) cases. 38 (73.1%) had pulmonary TB and 14 (26.9%) had extra-pulmonary. Conclusions: IDU and TB represent public health problem in Georgia. Active case finding is one of the useful tools for addressing TB problem among this group. Given the high risk for TB among IDUs, interventions such as active case finding, is urgently needed to detect TB cases as early as possible and treat them adequately.