Prevalence of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis in people living with HIV/AIDS in Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

Background - The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently declared tuberculosis to be a "global health emergency" based on the findings that one-third of the world population has been infected¹. Since the first cases of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) were reported in 1981, infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has grown to pandemic proportions, resulting in an estimated 65 million infections and 25 million deaths ^{2, 3}. Unfortunately both synergy each other and enhance the fast progression of one another, hence they are often called”the twin killers”.  

Methods –Sputum smears were prepared and stained using the Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) staining Technique or AFB staining method while HIV status was ascertained using the current National Algorithm for surveillance as well as laboratory diagnosis of  HIV infection and or AIDS.

Results - A total of 113 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) were tested for sputum AFB. Sixty two (54.9%) were males and 51 (45.1%) females. Eight (7.1%) were found to be smear positive (SS+) and both gender groups had equal number of 4 (3.5%).

Conclusion - TB and HIV co-infection is a great problem that needs to be tackled actively. With the current epidemics of the two infections, there is need not to delay on the sputum smear technique in making final decision in ruling out TB in such patients. Clinical presentations and radiological investigations are two major components to add in such dilemmatic situations to make a final or conclusive diagnosis.