Revista de Métodos de Diagnóstico Médico
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Tuberculosis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Co-Infection in Rural Eastern Nigeria

Anochie PI, Onyeneke EC, Onyeneke CN, Ogu ACand Onyeozirila AC

Background: HIV promotes progression of TB latent infection to active disease and the relapse of TB in previously treated patients. TB is the leading cause of death in HIV infected patients. Each disease speeds up the progress of the other. This study aims to determine the seroprevalence of the HIV infections, the presence of Mycobacteria species and their drug profile and susceptibility patterns. Study design: A study population of 805 new subjects presenting with symptoms of bronchopulmonary disorders were studied between January 2011 to June 2012 in health facilities in rural communities in Eastern Nigeria. This study was made using questionnaire, tuberculosis and HIV tests. Results: A total of 744 (0.9%) patients were positive for TB and 620(0.7%) for HIV out of which 405 (0.5%) were positive for HIV-1, 215 (0.2%) for HIV-2 and 163 (0.2%) for HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies. Correlation of the positivity rates for both HIV and TB showed that 543 (0.6%) of the 744 (0.9%) patients positive for TB were also positive for HIV. Strains of M. tuberculosis, M. bovis and other Mycobacteria were associated with pulmonary tuberculosis and their resistance to isoniazide was highest (0.16%), followed by rifampicin (0.15%), streptomycin (0.08%), ethambutol (0.08%) and para-aminosalicyclic acid (0.04%). Conclusion: Data from this study should be applied to TB/HIV control programmes for effective and proper management of patients as well as formation of a basis for accelerated public awareness of the risk of TB/HIV coinfection in rural communities.