Positive Tuberculosis Blood Test as a Predictor of Health Status Among HIV-Infected Persons

This cross-sectional study explored tuberculosis (TB) knowledge, attitudes, practice, and TB interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) results as the predictor of self-reported poor mental and physical health among HIV-infected persons attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic (N = 111). The participants correctly responded to only 56.6% of the TB knowledge questions. Most had positive attitudes and would not be ashamed of TB diagnosis. The TB practice was suboptimal with only half having been tested for TB within the past 2 years. Eight percent of the participants had positive IGRA (n = 9). Simultaneous multiple regression models showed that positive IGRA, an indicator of latent TB infection, was the only significant predictor of both poor mental health (p = .006) and physical health days (p = .016). IGRA screening and treatment of latent TB infection in HIV-infected persons could potentially improve their mental and physical health status in addition to reducing the TB reactivation rate.