Volume 8, Number 11—November 2002
THEME ISSUE
Tuberculosis Genotyping
Tuberculosis Genotyping Network, United States
Cross-Jurisdictional Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Maryland and Washington, D.C., 1996–2000, Linked to the Homeless
Monica Lathan*†, Leonard Ntaate Mukasa*, Nancy Hooper*, Jonathan Golub*, Nancy Baruch*, Donna Mulcahy‡, William Benjamin§, and Wendy A. Cronin*
Table
Selected characteristics among homeless and nonhomeless clustered tuberculosis case-patients, Maryland and Washington, D.C.a,b
| Characteristics | Homeless No. (%) | Non-homeless No. (%) | p valuec |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | |||
| Male | 13 (92.8) | 4 (44.4) | 0.02 |
| Female | 1(7.2) | 5 (55.6) | |
| Median age in years (range) | 42 (27–57) | 40 (23–61) | 0.97 |
| Substance abuse (IV or non-IV) | |||
| Yes | 5 (35.7) | 0 (0.0) | |
| No | 9 (64.3) | 9 (100.0) | 0.11 |
| Alcohol abuse | |||
| Yes | 9 (64.3) | 3 (33.3) | 0.21 |
| No | 5 (35.7) | 6(66.7) | |
| HIV status | |||
| Positive | 8 (57.1) | 1 (11.1) | 0.16 |
| Negative | 6 (42.9) | 6 (66.7) | |
| Unknown | 0 (0.0) | 2 (22.2) | |
| Smear for AFB | |||
| Positive | 14 (100.0) | 6 (66.7)3 | 0.05 |
| Negative | 0 (0.0) | (33.3) | |
| Pulmonary cavities | |||
| Present | 7 (50.0) | 5 (55.6) | 1.00 |
| Absent | 7 (50.0) | 4 (44.4) | |
| Mental illness | |||
| Yes | 4 (28.6) | 1 (11.1) | 0.61 |
| No | 10 (71.4) | 8 (88.9) | |
| Died | |||
| Yes | 4 (28.6) | 1 (11.1) | 0.61 |
| No | 10 (71.4) | 8 (88.9) | |
aNA, not applicable; AFB, acid-fast bacilli.
bWashington, D.C., cases were preselected on the basis of a homeless history except for case in the nurse.
cFisher exact tests were used to compare demographic and clinical characteristics between the homeless and nonhomeless groups.
