The extent to which HIV-associated tuberculosis emerges in a community depends on three factors: the incidence and prevalence of infection with M. tuberculosis, the prevalence and incidence of HIV infection, and critically to what extent these two respective population segments overlap.
In the Florida study, all patients had HIV infection, and the only critical determinants were the prevalence (and incidence) of tuberculous infection and the overlap of this segment with those with HIV infection. Apparently, it was lowest among non-Hispanic Whites, and largest among patients who had immigrated from Haiti. Among Hispanics and American Blacks, prevalence (and incidence) of tuberculous infection was intermediate between the two extremes.
