Tuberculosis in the intensive care unit: a descriptive analysis in a low-burden country

Although tuberculosis (TB) is not a major public health issue in low-burden countries, severe cases are still a matter of concern.

To assess the risk factors for mortality due to TB in a low-burden setting.

A retrospective study of 97 patients hospitalised with active TB in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital, Paris, France, from 2000 to 2009.

The mean age was 47.4 ± 14.7 years; 40 patients were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected, with a median CD4 cell count of 74 cells/mm(3). The survival analysis showed that 21 patients died during their time in the ICU. The observed risk factors for ICU mortality were organ failure, high Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores, and concomitant non-tuberculous infection. In multivariate analysis, only SAPS II score was significantly associated with mortality.

Risk factors identified in this study are different from those in high-burden countries, and were not associated with the site of TB disease. There was no difference in TB presentation between HIV-infected and non-HIV-infected patients, and HIV was not a mortality risk factor. Low-burden countries still experience high death rates due to severe TB.