Abstract
Matching Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were noted among 11 young tuberculosis patients socially linked through illicit drug–related activities. A large proportion of their friends, 14 (64%) of 22, had positive tuberculin skin-test results. The behavior of "hotboxing" (smoking marijuana inside a closed car with friends to repeatedly inhale exhaled smoke) fueled transmission.
Highlights
Matching Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were noted among 11 young tuberculosis patients socially linked through illicit drug–related activities
The Study Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from all culturepositive TB patients in Seattle and King County, Washington, during 2003–2004 were genotyped by spacer oligonucleotide typing and mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit methods
For sputum smear–positive patients, the infectious period extended from 3 months before symptom onset or the first positive smear until 2 weeks after the start of appropriate
Summary
Matching Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were noted among 11 young tuberculosis patients socially linked through illicit drug–related activities. For sputum smear–positive patients, the infectious period extended from 3 months before symptom onset or the first positive smear (whichever was earlier) until 2 weeks after the start of appropriate We interviewed patients to learn their contacts, activities, and locations frequented while they were contagious. Additional contacts were found by outreach workers and a disease intervention specialist from the East-African community who was hired to work in the neighborhoods frequented by the patients.
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