Study suggests chest radiography unnecessary to identify tuberculosis among HIV patients in resource-poor settings (pp 1516, 1551)
Embargoed 0001 h (London time) 7 November 2003. Authors of a research letter in this week's issue of THE LANCET provide evidence that counters UNAIDS/WHO guidelines with respect to preventive tuberculosis treatment for people with HIV-1 infection. Chest radiography-considered important by UNAIDS/WHO in screening out people with tuberculosis before preventive antibiotic treatment can be initiated-was not found to be necessary. HIV-1 infection is a major risk factor for tuberculosis. Preventive antibiotic programmes are being initiated in some less-developed settings; however this approach can only be effective if patients with active tuberculosis are excluded, to avoid the emergence of antib