PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS CO-INFECTION AMONG HIV INFECTED PATIENTS: A HOSPITAL BASED STUDY FROM BIJAPUR, SOUTHERN INDIA

Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common serious opportunistic infection in Human-immunodeficiency-virus (HIV) positive patients and is the manifestation of AIDS in more than 50% of cases in developing countries. The present study was conducted from July 2012 to June 2014 at Al-Ameen Medical college Hospital, Bijapur, Southern India. The study was carried out to detect the prevalence of tuberculosis among HIV positive patients correlating with their CD4 counts. 90 confirmed HIV positive patients attending HIV-Voluntary Counselling and Testing Center (VCTC) located at the same hospital were included in the study. All were screened for pulmonary tuberculosis by testing early morning sputum samples by direct microscopy of AFB (Acid fast bacilli) stained smear and a base line chest radiograph (CXR) of the subjects as per RNTCP standard uidelines [ 7]. HIV cases were further classified in correlation with their CD4 count. Of the 90 HIV infected persons, 49 (54.44%) were males and 41(45.55%) were females. Majority of them were in the age group 31-40yrs (47.7%) followed by 21-30 (22.2%). The overall prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis was 16.66%. Co-infection was found to be higher in males than females (male: female = 9: 6), and the age group of 31-40yrs were predominantly co-infected. Among 15 diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis cases, 9 (60%) patients (7 males & 2 females) had CD4 count below 200cells/mu l and 6 patients (40%) (2 males & 4 females) had CD4 count above 200cells/mu l. The study shows total 16.66% TB prevalence in HIV positive patients and rate of tuberculosis is found to be more in patients with CD4 count less than 200(60%). As the tuberculosis is one of the important opportunistic infection in HIV positive patients, the screening for tuberculosis should be made mandatory for all HIV patients and require more strategic preventive measures that enhance body immunity among HIV patients are highly needed as early as possible before they develop active tuberculosis.