Tuberculosis in HIV positive individuals

Tuberculosis (TB) is worldwide one of the leading causes of death in HIV infected individuals. In Chile, TB rates have fallen dramatically in the general population and new cases are being progressively restricted to high risk groups, particularly immunosuppressed individuals. In these patients diagnostic tests have decreased sensitivity and TB frequently evolves to disseminated and rapidly progressive forms. Besides, the concurrent treatment of HIV infection and TB adds further toxicities and the possibility of significant interactions. In this article we review the particularities and advances in diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of TB in the HIV infected patient.