Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: June | Volume: 7 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 94-101
A Study on HIV-TB Coinfection among Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Centre in North East India
Dr. Debahuti Sabhapandit1*, Dr. Plabon Hazarika2**, Dr. Anil Chandra Phukan3*, Dr. K. G. Lynrah4#, Dr. Elantamilan D1*
1Post Graduate Trainee, 2Senior Resident Doctor, 3Professor & Head, 4Associate Professor,
*Department of Microbiology, **Department of Anesthesiology, #Department of Medicine,
North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS)
Shillong-793018, Meghalaya, India
Corresponding Author: Debahuti Sabhapandit
ABSTRACT
Introduction: HIV and TB can individually be the major causes for public health threats and the combination of the two has proven to have a far greater impact on the epidemiologic progression and consequently on the global health scene. Due to this relationship there has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of tuberculosis in countries with high prevalence of HIV and TB.
Objectives: To understand the prevalence of HIV-TB coinfection among patients attending a Tertiary Care Centre in North East India and assessment of the risk factors for HIV-TB coinfection.
Materials and Method: The study was conducted in two groups of patients attending Integrated Counseling and Test Centre (ICTC) under National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and Designated Microscopy Centre (DMC) under RNTCP were included. Prevalence of HIV-TB coinfection and risk factors for coinfection were estimated.
Results: A total of 6786 clients attending ICTC and 2651 patients attending DMC of which 86 (1.26%) were positive for HIV, 253(9.54%) were positive for pulmonary TB, and 12(0.13%) had HIV-TB coinfection respectively. Prevalence of coinfection was more common among males sexually active age group. Substance abuse, illiteracy and truck drivers by occupation were found to be risk factors for coinfection in comparison to other similar studies.
Conclusion: HIV-TB coinfection represents a novel pathogenic scenario at the global level. It constitutes a serious diagnostic and therapeutic challenge particularly in poor countries. In our study, we found that prevalence of HIV-TB coinfection was lower in contrast to many studies where the prevalence was higher.
Key words: Coinfection, Prevalence, HIV, TB, Risk factors