Prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection among Tuberculosis Patients at Infectious Disease Hospital, Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

The epidemic of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the emergence of drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains have been recognized as the most important factors contributing to increasing resurgence of tuberculosis (TB). This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of HIV among tuberculosis patients and drug sensitivity pattern of some of the mycobacterial isolates. One hundred and sixty eight (168) sputum samples from tuberculosis patients attending Infectious Diseases Hospital, Kano were collected and processed for the presence of Mycobacteria. Blood samples of the patients were also screened for the presence of HIV. The drug susceptibility test (DST) was performed using the BACTEC Mycobacteria Growth Inhibitory Test (MGIT) M960 technique. Results revealed that out of the 168 patients studied 24 (14.29%) were TB and HIV co-infected and 135 (68.88%) were males while 61 (31.12%) were females (P = 0.001). Majority of the studied cases were of the age groups 15-24 years and 25-34 years (P = 0.001). Ten (58.82%) of the 17 isolates that were subjected to DST against the first-line anti-TB drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide) were found to be resistant against the various drugs to which they were tested; out of which 7 (41.17%) exhibited a primary drug resistance pattern, 3 (17.65%) exhibited acquired drug resistance pattern and 2 (11.74%) were multi-drug resistant TB. The highest drug resistance of 23.53% was recorded against isoniazid, followed by rifampicin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide each with a resistance of 17.65%. The study recommends screening of all TB patients for early diagnosis of HIV co-infection as well as conducting DST which will inform prompt management of the infected individuals and designing appropriate treatment schedule for effective TB/HV control as well as preventing transmission of drug resistant TB.