Tuberculosis in hemodialysis patients and evaluation of exposures

Three cases of tuberculosis in hemodialysis patients are described. All of them had an insidious presentation: a pulmonary form, a pleural form and a lymphadenitis form of the disease. The three cases presented risk factors associated and in two out of the three the detection of the team was achieved during the first three months of hemodialysis therapy (one had to undertake hemodialysis again, after disfunction of renal transplant). The three teams happened within two months. Owing to this, an evaluation of exposure was carried out in patients, staff and collective transport personnel making tuberculin test conversion clear in all three groups and establishing chemoprophylaxis afterward. Isoniacide prophylaxis eliminates a possible need for multidrug therapy for active tuberculosis at a future date, but decisions to institute preventive therapy are always difficult. To successfully combat the spread of tuberculosis, timely identification and treatment of high-risk populations is essential.