title: Latent and active tuberculosis: evaluation of injecting drug users.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a high risk of tuberculosis (TB) infection among injecting drug users (IDUs).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the frequency of latent and active TB infection among IDUs.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study between 2008 and 2009, IDUs referred to the methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) centers in Hamedan-Iran, undergone tuberculin skin test (PPD; purified protein derivative) were recruited. The participants with positive results for PPD test (> 5 mm and > 10 mm in HIV positive and negative cases), undergone other complementary procedures such as chest-X-ray and sputum smear test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 268 IDUs between 18 and 70 (mean: 34.5 [8.2]) years were included in the study. PPD test had positive findings in 49 cases (18.3%). There was no significant difference of PPD positivity between HIV positive and negative participants (17.7% vs. 18.5%). An active TB was found among IDUs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of latent and active TB among IDUs indicates the need for TB screening tests among this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mojgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mamani
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Mahdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Majzoobi
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Saadat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Torabian
authors.affiliation: Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ronak
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mihan
authors.affiliation: Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Kamyab
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alizadeh
keywords: Drug Users; Latent Tuberculosis; Tuberculin