Tuberculosis in Dialyzed Patients

Five cases of active tuberculosis developed among 136 patients maintained on dialysis for an average period of 1.4 years each. This experience suggests that patients on maintenance dialysis have a greater chance of contracting tuberculous infection. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was difficult because the features of this disease mimicked findings in uremia, and the skin test with purified protein derivative proved unreliable. An awareness of the increased susceptibility of dialysis patients to tuberculosis should lead to the prompt institution of therapy and to the lessening of hazards to other patients and staff. (JAMA229:798-800, 1974)