title: [Clinical and epidemiological profile of tuberculosis in a university hospital in Santiago, Chile].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incidence and epidemiological profile of tuberculosis (TB) has changed significantly in the recent years in Chile.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of TB cases diagnosed in the last decade at a university hospital in Santiago.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture registry of the microbiology laboratory was reviewed. Medical records of patients with a positive culture registered between 2000 and 2010 were retrieved and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred forty positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis cultures were identified and the medical records of 158 of these patients were accessed for analysis. The median age was 53 years (range: 3 to 89), 55.1% were female and nearly 42% had extra-pulmonary TB. Among known risk factors, 32.9% of patients were older than 65 years, 4.4% were health care workers and 3.9% immigrants. Twenty eight percent (41/145) had some type of immunosuppression at diagnosis: 11.7% HIV infection and 16.6% were using immunosuppressive drugs. In this group, a previous tuberculin skin test was done in only 5 cases (12.2%). Adverse events related to TB treatment were reported in 21.3% of cases (17/80). No cases of fulminant hepatitis or death from this cause were identified. Four of 92 patients that had a complete follow up during treatment, died. Two of these patients were receiving steroids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Almost one third of TB cases occurred among immunosuppressed patients and 42% were extra-pulmonary forms. The prevention of TB reactivation in this group should be strengthened.
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile.
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morgado
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Köhnenkampf
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Navarrete
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: M Elvira
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Balcells
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult