Publication:

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

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.