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Silicotuberculosis: long-term outcome after short-course chemotherapy
1Department of Medicine, Ernest Oppenheimer Hospital, Welkom, South Africa.
Tubercle and Lung Disease : the Official Journal of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
|February 1, 1995
Summary
Silicosis slightly increases the risk of tuberculosis relapse in gold miners treated with short-course chemotherapy. Relapses occurred over a similar timeframe for both silicosis and non-silicosis groups.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Respiratory Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Silicosis is a significant occupational hazard for gold miners.
- Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a common comorbidity in this population.
- Short-course chemotherapy is the standard treatment for TB.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the long-term risk of TB relapse in gold miners with silicosis.
- To compare relapse rates between miners with and without silicosis after treatment.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 549 gold miners with TB was studied.
- Miners received 5-month short-course chemotherapy.
- Radiographs assessed for silicosis; follow-up for at least 5 years post-treatment.
Main Results:
- 167 out of 549 miners had silicosis.
- The incidence density of TB relapse was 1.55 times higher in miners with silicosis.
- No significant difference in the timing of relapse between groups.
Conclusions:
- Silicosis is associated with a modest increase in TB relapse risk.
- TB relapses can occur beyond the initial 2 years post-treatment in both groups.