Epidemiological surveillance of tuberculosis among HIV/AIDS seropositive individuals attending ART center at a tertiary care teaching hospital

Abstract

Background:HIBackground: HIV/ AIDS is an epidemic that is most prevalent in India affecting people of different age groups, occupations and gender. It has a severe impact on the health status of the affected individuals. With the increase in the transmission of HIV there is also an increase in the existence of TB as a co-infection. In this context, the aim of our study is to emphasize the factors affecting the occurrence, transmission and prognosis of HIV/AIDS patients along with TB co-infection.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted from October 2015 to March 2016 at an ART center in South India. All the seropositive patients with/ without opportunistic infection above the age of 18 years were included in the study.Results: Overall 374 patients were included in the study, of which the most affected age group was 18-45 years. Women constituted 55.61% of the total population. 64.17% of the individuals were married. Majority of them belonged to rural areas (64.97%) and were illiterates (37.43%). Commonly observed WHO clinical stage was I and functional status was working. Heterosexuality (93.65%) was the predominant route of transmission. 170 had TB with PTB (60.58%) being prevalent than EPTB (33.52%). The number of smear positive and smear negative cases were 37.79% and 27.55% respectively. DOTS therapy was accessible to only 49.99%.Conclusions: There was an extensive prevalence of TB among HIV/AIDS individuals. This signifies a need for increased screening of TB among HIV seropositive individuals and vice-versa. Preventive and educational programmes should be organised to halt the transmission of HIV and to reduce the newly occurring HIV infections. V/ AIDS is an epidemic that is most prevalent in India affecting people of different age groups, occupations and gender. It has a severe impact on the health status of the affected individuals. With the increase in the transmission of HIV there is also an increase in the existence of TB as a co-infection. In this context, the aim of our study is to emphasize the factors affecting the occurrence, transmission and prognosis of HIV/AIDS patients along with TB co-infection.Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted from October 2015 to March 2016 at an ART center in South India. All the seropositive patients with/ without opportunistic infection above the age of 18 years were included in the study.Results: Overall 374 patients were included in the study, of which the most affected age group was 18-45 years. Women constituted 55.61% of the total population. 64.17% of the individuals were married. Majority of them belonged to rural areas (64.97%) and were illiterates (37.43%). Commonly observed WHO clinical stage was I and functional status was working. Heterosexuality (93.65%) was the predominant route of transmission. 170 had TB with PTB (60.58%) being prevalent than EPTB (33.52%). The number of smear positive and smear negative cases were 37.79% and 27.55% respectively. DOTS therapy was accessible to only 49.99%.Conclusion: There was an extensive prevalence of TB among HIV/AIDS individuals. This signifies a need for increased screening of TB among HIV seropositive individuals and vice-versa. Preventive and educational programmes should be organised to halt the transmission of HIV and to reduce the newly occurring HIV infections.

<p>Magnitude and Associated Factors of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Among HIV/AIDS Patients Attending Antiretroviral Therapy Clinic at Debre Tabor Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2019</p>

“…This finding was comparatively lower than a study conducted in different areas of Ethiopia like Amhara region Northwest Ethiopia 27.7%, 27 to a study conducted among 12,980 Ethiopian study participants 25.59%, 38 to a study that was done in Bahir Dar Flege Hiwot specialized hospital 10.1%, 39 a facility-based retrospective study conducted at Hawassa University referral hospital of Ethiopia reported that 18.2%, 40 another cross-sectional study (n=1153) that was done at private health institutions in Ethiopia 20%, 41 and a retrospective study at Butajira Zonal hospital, Ethiopia that founds 20.3%. 9 Not only from local studies but also abroad studies have shown that the higher magnitude of PTB among HIVpositive individuals including from South India 60.58%, 42 Nigeria 42.3%, 43 Tanzania (11.0%) participants developed TB while receiving ART, 37 and the prevalence rate of TB while receiving ART from South Africa reported 10%. 44 The discrepancy in the magnitude of TB among HIVpositive participants may be explained by the difference in the health-care system among ART centres, variation in study design, 45 the diagnostic methods 46 employed (smear microscopy, culture, GeneXpert), ART regimens and its adherence 47 and adverse drug-related problems that trigger MTB-MDR.…”

“…Not only from local studies but also abroad studies have shown that the higher magnitude of PTB among HIV-positive individuals including from South India 60.58%, 42 Nigeria 42.3%, 43 Tanzania (11.0%) participants developed TB while receiving ART, 37 and the prevalence rate of TB while receiving ART from South Africa reported 10%. 44 The discrepancy in the magnitude of TB among HIV-positive participants may be explained by the difference in the health-care system among ART centres, variation in study design, 45 the diagnostic methods 46 employed (smear microscopy, culture, GeneXpert), ART regimens and its adherence 47 and adverse drug-related problems that trigger MTB-MDR.…”