Newsletter

Volume 8, Issue 1

January – March 2021


Check out the current issue of URBAN ARCH News, the quarterly newsletter bringing you news on the latest URBAN ARCH and related research.


URBAN ARCH Contributions to TB Research


Spotlight on… Gabe Chamie

In this issue, we interview Gabe Chamie, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine and a faculty member in the Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and co-investigator on the Uganda DIPT study.

 

 

 


On The Ground

Click on the buttons to see what the URBAN ARCH Cohorts and Cores have been working on.


New URBAN ARCH Publications


Article Spotlight

Is Alcohol Use Associated With Latent Tuberculosis Infection Among People Living With HIV?

Among people living with HIV (PLWH), tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death. Research suggests that people with heavy alcohol use have an increased risk of developing TB, compared with people who abstain from drinking. URBAN ARCH researchers in Uganda recently examined the association between any alcohol use and latent TB infection among PLWH receiving antiretroviral therapy at the Mbarara Regional Hospital HIV clinic. Participants (N=295) were predominantly female (63%) and had alcohol use (63%). Latent TB infection was assessed by skin test. 

  • Overall, 28% of participants tested positive for latent TB infection.
  • Compared with participants who abstained from alcohol use, the odds of testing positive for latent TB infection among people with alcohol use were 0.76 (95% CI: 0.41, 1.41). Analyses were adjusted for gender, age, body mass index, history of smoking, and prior unhealthy alcohol use.

Comments: This study found no association between any alcohol use and latent TB infection in this population of PLWH. However, levels of alcohol consumption were not assessed. Future research should explore whether there is an association between levels of alcohol use and latent TB infection among PLWH.

Reference: Muyindike WR, Fatch R, Cheng DM, et al. Tuberculin skin test positivity among HIV-infected alcohol drinkers on antiretrovirals in south-western Uganda. PLoS One. 2020;15(7):e0235261.


Selected NIH Notices and Funding Opportunities

Click here for more funding announcements related to HIV and alcohol research.


Events and Conferences

Click here for more events and conferences.