Attempted TB Control in South African Gold Miners

Mass screening, together with treatment for the miners with active disease and isoniazid prophylaxis for all others, failed to reduce the incidence of tuberculosis.

The high risk for tuberculosis (TB) among South African gold miners has been recognized for many decades and has been intensified by the HIV epidemic. Now, in a cluster-randomized trial involving workers at three gold-mining companies, researchers have evaluated a novel intervention: screening the entire workforce for active TB, then providing treatment for individuals with active disease and isoniazid prophylaxis for all others.

Overall, 15 clusters were included, 8 in the intervention group and 7 in the control group (40,981 and 37,763 miners, respectively). Overall TB incidence per 100 person-years was 3.02 and 2.95 in the intervention and control clusters (adjusted rate ratio for the intervention clusters, 0.96; 95% confidence interval, …

Reviewing Author

Larry M. Baddour, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc. (Authorship duties)

Larry M. Baddour, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc. (Authorship duties)

Attempted TB Control in South African Gold Miners

Topics

Reviewing Author