Joshua Gilbert

Bio 1615-019
Tuesday 4:00pm- 6:50pm
TUBERCULOSIS

The article I have chosen is, Tuberculosis Mortality, Drug Resistance, And
Infectiousness In Patients With And Without HIV Infections In Peru.
Tuberculosis kills 1.7 million people each year. (VIVIAN KAWAI, 2006)
Patients
All of the patients involved in the study were adults who had previously been
diagnosed with tuberculosis. The 287 people involved were screened for HIV
prior to being admitted to the study. The result of the testing indicated that
72 of the patients were in fact infected with HIV, and 215 were not infected.
The patients involved were divided into two groups. The first group
consisting of 223 patients who were diagnosed at Maria Auxiliadora General
Hospital. The remaining 64 patients who went to Dos de Mayo Hospital.
(VIVIAN KAWAI, 2006)
Methods
Samples of sputum were taken at the beginning of the test to determine if
tuberculosis was present. The test confirmed that all 287 people in the study
did indeed have tuberculosis. (VIVIAN KAWAI, 2006)
Treatment
At the general hospital HIV drugs were administered after consulting 176 of
the patients. The treatment was found to have positive results in 8 patients.
The other 47 people at the hospital, who turned down the treatment, were

considered a control group for the study. In addition all patients received the
same basic tablet medication and were observed for any changes. The
additional treatment was only administered a second time to 12 people.
(VIVIAN KAWAI, 2006)
Results
Survival to the end of the treatment was calculated at 78%. The patients who
had HIV had a much higher mortality rate as time went on. In the follow up
visit a year later 49 people had passed away. 48 people, or 76% of those
infected with HIV had passed. This is compared to the one person who did
not have HIV who passed away. (VIVIAN KAWAI, 2006)
Infectiousness
As with any medical study there is always some risk associated with cross
contamination of samples, as well as the health and safety of the medical
personnel who are performing the study. This can be even higher when
dealing with diseases such as Tuberculosis and HIV.
Risk factors
As mentioned the health and well-being of everyone involved should be the
highest priority when conducting such test. There is always the concern of
infection, hopefully precautions are taken to keep risks low. This has been a
risk factor for everyone involved with an infected with HIV person from the
time of infection until they are buried or cremated. In the United States there
are test constantly run to determine all sorts of different illnesses and
diseases, but we still need to be aware of any bodily fluids we come in

contact with. Doctors, nurses, family members and even the mortician
should be informed when such diseases are diagnosed. Tuberculosis
although not as life threatening is even more contagious. A person can be
infected simply by being coughed, sneezed, or even breathed on by
someone who is already infected with the disease. This is why protective
equipment such as gloves, gowns, and masks should be worn by everyone
who comes into contact with those who are infected.
Reliability
As the data is gathered and analyzed there is always some degree of error. In
a perfect environment this would not be the case, so they do their best to
control everything possible to get the most accurate results.

Bibliography
(n.d.).
VIVIAN KAWAI, G. S. (2006). TUBERCULOSIS MORTALITY, DRUG RESISTANCE, AND
INFECTIOUSNESS IN PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT HIV INFECTION IN PERU.
The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1027-1033.