No abstract

Background:Co-infection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) is common as both viruses share common routes of transmission. HIV significantly affects the natural history of HBV, hence the need to determine the prevalence of co-infection.Materials and Methods:This was a retrospective study between 2005 and 2009, in which is a total of 2018 subjects who reported at our University Teaching Hospital blood bank and human immunodeficiency virus clinic were studied. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was tested for using a one step lateral flow rapid chromatographic immunoassay (Acumen labs and diagnostic centre, Bangalore, India) and HIV 1/2 was tested using two kits, Determine (made by Abbot, Japan for Inverness Medical, Japan).Results:A total of 2018 subjects were studied out of which 1176 were HIV positive (964 males and 212 females) and 842 (334 males and 508 females) were negative. The prevalence of HBsAg positivity in the study population was 5.9%. It was 6.3% and 5.6% in the HIV-infected and un-infected population, respectively. Although the prevalence was higher in those who are HIV infected, the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.52). Males who were HIV positive were found to be more likely to have co-infection than females (8.7% vs. 4.2%, P=0.02, OR=1.917).Conclusion:This study showed that in south-eastern Nigeria, infection with HBV is relatively common in both HIV-infected and un-infected individuals. Routine screening for HBV should be done for all HIV positive individuals.

We report a case of human pentastomiasis in a 70-year-old retired long-distance driver/farmer whose diagnosis was made incidentally while being investigated for a 1-month history of cough and abdominal pain. The chest X-ray revealed multiple comma-shaped and rounded opacities in keeping with Armillifer infection, most likely Armillifer armillatus. The patient made an uneventful recovery after a 10-day course of mebendazole (an antihelminthic) tablet and ciprofloxacin (antibiotic) capsules and was discharged home. He is presently being followed up. This is the first case we have seen in our medical unit thus we are reporting it.

No abstract

Medication errors associated with antituberculosis therapy remain a common occurrence in the current clinical practice setting. Greater vigilance when prescribing medications for tuberculosis disease is needed.