Seroprevalence of HIV in Newly Detected Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients in Khuzestan, Iran: Should HIV Testing Be Included in National Tuberculosis Program in This Region?

Abstract

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing strategy for tuberculosis (TB) patients in some high HIV incidence countries has been recommended based on interaction between HIV and TB. Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of HIV infection among newly detected pulmonary TB patients. Patients and Methods:In a cross sectional study, 104 cases including 95 non injecting drug users (IDU) and nine IDU, from 2009 to 2011 in Ahvaz capital of Khuzestan province in the south west of Iran, underwent HIV testing as early as being diagnosed as pulmonary TB. Inclusion criteria for HIV positivity was two EIA-HIV positive tests and confirmatory western blots. SPSS-16 software was employed to analyze data, including demographical characteristics, epidemiological and laboratory findings. Results: Overall HIV prevalence among pulmonary TB patients was 7.6%. Comparing HIV prevalence between non IDU pulmonary TB and IDU pulmonary TB showed that IDU cases were significantly at the risk of HIV infection [2.1% vs. 66.6%,odds ratio (95%CI): 1.6,0.31-12.97, P < 0.0001]. Conclusions: In the region under study HIV prevalence in newly detected pulmonary TB patients (except in IDU patients) was low compared with HIV high prevalence region. Therefore, routine HIV testing may not be required.

The History of Tuberculosis and Bacillus Calmette–Guérin Vaccine in Iran

“…According to the "Administration of Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control" of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in Iran, in 2010, a total of 10,485 old and new cases of TB were reported in Iran and of these cases, 326 patients (around 2.2%) were HIV positive (34). Thus, due to the low prevalence of HIV infection in Iran, routine HIV testing may not be required for newly detected pulmonary TB patients (35). Bordering on Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, with severely disrupted health services due to war and newly established countries to the north of Iran, have led to high TB infection rate in our country.…”

“…Genetic variety of BCG vaccine strains may change the resulting immunological response to it. Four common sub-strains that are currently in use are BCG-Pasteur (1173P2), BCG-Japan (Tokyo-172), BCG-Danish (Copenhagen-1331) and BCG-Glaxo (1077) (35). Although in the majority of countries with high TB incidence, the vaccine is supplied by UNICEF/WHO and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI); in Iran as one of those countries with high TB incidence, a local unknown BCG vaccine strain is being used (37).…”

A Comparative Study on the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Tuberculosis Among the Prisoners in Khuzestan, South-West Iran

“…The current study likewise the other studies showed that IDU either alone or in combination with HIV infection were important risk factors for Pulmonary Tuberculosis among prisoners ( 2 , 11 , 15 , 18 , 19 , 22 , 27 ). Alavi et al in another research in Khuzestan concluded that IDU subjects were significantly at the risk of both TB and HIV infection ( 28 ).…”

CD4+ count and Nitro-Blue Tetrazolium reduction rate of neutrophil in newly diagnosed HIV-infected adults in Sokoto Metropolis

“…Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a member of lentivirus (a subgroup of retrovirus) that causes progressive degeneration of the immune system, leading to the development of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) (Alavi, 2013;Tudela, 2014). HIV has infected more than 60 million and killed 30 million people around the world.…”