Screening for tuberculosis in the study of the living renal donor in a developing country

Transplantation. 2006 Jan 27;81(2):290-2. doi: 10.1097/01.tp.0000188689.41785.d8.

Abstract

Given the high prevalence of tuberculosis (Tb) in the Mexican population, a strict program to detect Tb in the potential donor is required. Chest x-ray, excretory urogram, urinalysis with microscopic exam of the sediment, urine cultures for M. tuberculosis, and tuberculin skin test (TST) with PPD-RT23 performed for evaluation of 222 living donors were reviewed. Isoniazid prophylaxis before kidney donation was gathered. Donors and recipients were followed up for a minimum of 2 years. According to the TST result, 36.8% of the donors had latent tuberculosis; however, all other studies were normal or negative in all of them. Use of isoniazid prophylaxis in TST-positive donors made no difference in risk of transmission of tuberculosis to the recipient or development of tuberculosis among the donors. Normal chest x-ray and excretory urogram, along with a negative microscopic examination of the urine, safely exclude tuberculosis transmission to recipients.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Developing Countries
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Isoniazid / therapeutic use
  • Kidney Transplantation*
  • Living Donors*
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Mexico
  • Middle Aged
  • Tuberculin Test
  • Tuberculosis / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis / drug therapy
  • Tuberculosis / prevention & control
  • Tuberculosis / transmission*

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Isoniazid