Aim: New Zealand has low rates of disease caused by to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This study is the first to describe a New Zealand cohort of patients with HIV-associated TB.
Method: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records, laboratory data and chest radiographs of all patients who were diagnosed with HIV-associated TB and who commenced treatment for TB disease at Auckland City Hospital between January 1997 and July 2009.
Results: During the 12-and-a-half year study period, 40 patients were diagnosed with HIV-associated TB. The median age was 37 years and the median CD4 count was 130 cells/mm3. Only 2 patients were New Zealand born. Twenty-four (60%) patients had known HIV infection prior to their diagnosis of TB disease. Two patients with known HIV infection and positive tuberculin skin tests had not received treatment for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Twenty-three (58%) patients received antiretroviral treatment during their TB treatment. There were 21 episodes of treatment interruption or immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. Three (8%) patients died.
Conclusions: New Zealand continues to have a low incidence of HIV-associated TB. Early HIV diagnosis with universal screening and the treatment of LTBI in persons living with HIV infection is key to minimising the disease burden.