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Resistance to broad spectrum β lactams, mediated by extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESβL) is an increasing problem worldwide. Production of these enzymes in clinical infections can result in treatment failure if one of the second or third generation cephalosporins is used. This study investigates the incidence of ESBL among E. coli and K. pneumoniae which were isolated from tuberculosis patients with secondary opportunistic bacterial infection attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano and Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Kano. A total of 37 E. coli and 33 K. pneumoniae obtained from their sputum were screened for ESBL production by Double disk synergy test method (DDST). Prevalence of 37.3% (14/37) and 36.4% (12/33) was recorded for Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae respectively. Furthermore, a slight high prevalence of 39.4% (13/33) was recorded with the female tuberculosis patients when compared with their male counterpart 35.1% (13/37). Escherichia coli harboring ESBL were more encountered among the elderly patients aged 31-50 (13/51 or 25.5%) when compared with K. pneumoniae with (9/51 or 17.6%). The study shows alarming rise in ESBL production among Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli among immunocompromised patients raising fear of possible emergence of multiple drug resistant bacteria that will be hard to treat. Thereby early detection of ESBL in these patients is recommended to curb the spread,

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Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. It is known to cause malfunction of the immune cells thereby predisposing to profiles of morbidity and fatality. The current study evaluated the functional activity of neutrophils and lymphocyte sub set (CD 4 + count) in newly diagnosed HIV -infected adults in Sokoto, Nigeria. A total of 126 male and female adults were recruited for the study, comprising of 64 newly diagnosed HIV-infected subjects and 62 age-and sex-matched apparently healthy individuals as controls. CD 4 + cells were enumerated using flow Cytometric method and neutrophil phagocytic activity was determined using Nitro-Blue Tetrazolium (NBT) Reduction test. Data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and independent sample t-test for comparison of means. P-value less than or equal to 0.05 (P ≤ 0.05) was regarded as statistically significant. The CD4 + count and neutrophil ingestion rate of NBT were significantly (P = 0.000) lower in newly diagnosed HIV-infected subjects compared with the values in control. The CD4 + count and formazan generated by neutrophil were significantly (P = 0.024 and 0.012 respectively) higher in newly diagnosed HIV-infected female compared with male subjects. The decreased CD 4 + count and neutrophil phagocytic activity in ART-naïve HIV-infected subjects is an indication that HIV suppresses both innate and adaptive arms of immune response. However, this effect was more pronounced in male subjects. The possible mechanism for this gender differences are discussed.

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