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Background and purpose: Several investigations recognized diabetes mellitus as one of the main risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). This study aimed at determining the prevalence of smear-positive pulmonary TB in diabetic patients in Southwest of Iran. Materials and methods: A census study was conducted from April 2010 to December 2011 in diabetic clinic in Zahedan. Standard chest radiography and sputum smear examination were performed on diabetics with tuberculosis symptoms. Cases of active TB were identified and referred to the directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS) centers. In addition, a purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test was done for all patients. Those with a positive PPD were referred to TB centers, based on their clinical signs and chest X-Ray results. Results: Among 400 diabetics, 269 (67.25%) patients had up to 4 clinical signs of TB, and laboratory paraclinical examinations revealed 4 cases of smear-positive pulmonary TB. The results of PPD test was negative for 64.2% (<5mm) while it was borderline for 29.5% (5 to 9mm) and positive for 6.35% (10 to 14mm). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate high prevalence of smear-positive TB in diabetic patients compared with expected cases in the community and global population. Thus, TB screening in patients with diabetes is recommended in order to control and succed in treatment of the two diseases.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, smear positive, tuberculosis skin test

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