Co-infection of HIV and Some Opportunistic Pathogens Among Patients Attending Two Referral Hospitals in Akure

ABSTRACT

The  seroprevalence  studies  of  Plasmodium  falciparum,  Mycobacterium  tuberculosis  and Samonella typhi, HIV and co-infections by the four pathogens were carried out among patients attending Don Bosco Medical centre Akure and Ondo State Specialist Hospital, Akure. Venous blood were collected from a total of 500 randomly selected patients aged 1 to ≥ 91 years  that attended the hospitals  for routine medical check up. Diagnostic test kits (“Determine” and ‟Unigold”) were used to screen the patients for the presence of HIV antibodies while “Malaria care stat” kits were used for the diagnosis of  Plasmodium falciparum. The presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was determined by The Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) screening kits. The results obtained indicates that 69.83%  and 65.11%  of the patients examined at Don Bosco Medical centre and State Specialist Hospital, Akure  were carrying Plasmodium falciparum. The study also recorded 4.55% and 3.88% malaria/HIV co-infection rate at Don Bosco and State Hospital Akure respectively. This apparently indicates the endemicity of the disease in Ondo state particularly in Akure. Results also showed that 4.55% of the patients had HIV in Don Bosco while 6.20% harboured HIV in State Specialist Hospital. Also 5.04%   and 2.48% of the sampled  population  at  State  Specialist  Hospital,  Akure  and  Don  Bosco  Medical  Centre respectively were carrying Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Results also revealed 49.59%, 4.55% and 5.43%  prevalence  of  typhoid,  HIV  and  co-infection  of  Samonella  typhi    and  HIV respectively in Don Bosco medical centre Akure while 43.75%, 6.20% and 4.13%  prevalence of typhoid , HIV and co-infection of Samonella typhi and HIV were recorded respectively in State Specialist Hospital, Akure.