Tuberculosis and homelessness in the United States, 1994-2003.

Abstract
Numerous tuberculosis (TB) outbreaks have originated among homeless persons in the United States.1-4 Homelessness is associated with an increased risk of exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis,5 undetected and untreated infection, and subsequent progression to TB disease.6 Homeless persons with TB are more likely to be hospitalized, and to be hospitalized longer, than nonhomeless persons with TB; the public sector pays most of those costs.7