Recurrent Tuberculosis Due to Exogenous Reinfection

To the Editor: The report by van Rie and colleagues (Oct. 14 issue) 1 ascribes 12 of 16 cases of recurrent tuberculosis in patients who were negative for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to exogenous reinfection. However, we are concerned about several points. In Table 2 of the article, it appears that Patients 1, 2, 3, 5, 12, and 13 had a negative sputum smear and only a single positive culture in the first episode of tuberculosis, as did Patients 7 and 9 in the subsequent episode. More information should be provided in order to make a convincing case for exogenous . . .