Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex bacteremia among HIV and non-HIV patients in a Mexican tertiary care center

OBJECTIVES: To determine the factors associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex-positive blood culture. METHODS: Case-control study. Sociodemographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected from 2000 to 2015. RESULTS: We reviewed medical records of 533 patients with culture-proven tuberculosis, of whom 27.2% (145/533) had blood culture available. Patients with mycobacteremia presented more frequently with abdominal tuberculosis, body mass index <18 kg/m(2), and had lower hemoglobin and albumin levels. No differences were observed regarding HIV status. CONCLUSIONS: Few studies have reported on the characteristics associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex bacteremia, especially among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-negative patients. Out of 145 tuberculosis-infected patients with blood culture results available, 21 turned out positive. Anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and a body mass index < 18 kg/m(2) were associated with mycobacteremia.