Tuberculosis outbreak in marijuana users, Seattle, Washington, 2004

Emerg Infect Dis. 2006 Jul;12(7):1156-9. doi: 10.3201/eid1207.051436.

Abstract

Matching Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were noted among 11 young tuberculosis patients socially linked through illicit drug-related activities. A large proportion of their friends, 14 (64%) of 22, had positive tuberculin skin-test results. The behavior of "hotboxing" (smoking marijuana inside a closed car with friends to repeatedly inhale exhaled smoke) fueled transmission.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cannabis
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Marijuana Smoking / adverse effects*
  • Risk Factors
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / transmission*
  • Washington / epidemiology