Proportion of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Mycobacterium tuberculosis Co-Infected Patients in Korea

Abstract

Much controversy surrounds the issue of whether HIV infection is a risk factor for developing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of and risk factors for MDR-TB in HIV-infected patients at the National Medical Center of Korea. We reviewed the medical records of HIV/TB co-infected patients from January 2005 to May 2011; the drug susceptibility profiles were available for 55 patients. Of these, 32.7% had MDR-TB, which was approximately 3.6 times higher than the prevalence among the general population. Additionally, there were more additional AIDS-defining clinical illnesses in the MDR-TB group than in the non-MDR-TB group (27.8% vs 5.4%, P = 0.032). These results suggest that HIV infection and HIV-related immunosuppresion may contribute to the development of MDR-TB.

Prevalence and determinants of HIV in tuberculosis patients in Wuxi City, Jiangsu province, China: a cross-sectional study

“…1 The dual epidemics of TB and HIV are particularly pervasive in China, where HIV has been the most important contributing factor to the increasing incidence of TB over the last 10 years. 9,10 In China, it is reported that the prevalence of HIV infection in TB patients is 0.9% (0.6–1.4%), and the prevalence of TB among the HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) population was 7.2% (4.2–12.3%). 11 The dual epidemics are also of growing concern in Asia, where two-thirds of TB-infected people live and where TB now accounts for 40% of AIDS deaths.…”

Is Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis More Prevalent in HIV-Infected Patients in Korea?

“…However, they did not compare MDR-TB rate of HIV-infected patients with the control group. 10 Therefore, based on the previous study, it is not clear whether MDR-TB rate is more frequent in HIV-infected patients. Furthermore, the previous study was performed at a referral hospital for complicated HIV/AIDS patients, 10 therefore, those patients could have been selectively gathered at that institution.…”

“…In addition, MDR-TB was not associated with HIV infection in a subgroup analysis of new TB patients. Joh, et al10 reported that the MDR-TB prevalence among HIV/TB co-infected patients was 32.7% at a Korean hospital. However, they did not compare MDR-TB rate of HIV-infected patients with the control group 10.…”

“…Joh, et al10 reported that the MDR-TB prevalence among HIV/TB co-infected patients was 32.7% at a Korean hospital. However, they did not compare MDR-TB rate of HIV-infected patients with the control group 10. Therefore, based on the previous study, it is not clear whether MDR-TB rate is more frequent in HIV-infected patients.…”

“…Therefore, based on the previous study, it is not clear whether MDR-TB rate is more frequent in HIV-infected patients. Furthermore, the previous study was performed at a referral hospital for complicated HIV/AIDS patients,10 therefore, those patients could have been selectively gathered at that institution. Our study suggests that the MDR-TB burden of HIV-infected patients might be similar to the MDR-TB burden of the general population in areas with low HIV and intermediate TB burden such as South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong.…”