THE PREVALENCE OF TUBERCULOSIS IN HIV/AIDS PATIENTS. A CASE OF COMBONI HOPITAL

ABSTRACT

In this study, the prevalence of Tuberculosis (TB) among HIV/AIDS patients Comboni Mission

hospital was investigated. In addition, the comparison between microscopical and radiological

techniques of TB diagnosis was studied as well as the specimen of most diagnostic value.

Out of 86 confirmed Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients examined

microscopically with Ziehl Neelson (ZN) cold staining method for Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) in

sputa, were positive for AFB showing a prevalence of 13.8%. the prevalence of TB in AIDS

patients with regards to age group and sex distribution showed the highest number of positive

cases to be in age group 21-30 yr (5.8%), males made up of 7 (8.1%) and females (5.8%).

The radiological technique proved more sensitive with 52 (60%) positive cases than the

microscopic technique with only 12 (13.9%). In the study of the most valuable specimen, early

morning specimens (Collection samples) were of more diagnosis value than others (collected at

the clinic between 9am and 12 noon) and gave the highest positive result of 13.9% while samples

I and III were 10.5% and 9.3% respectively.

The high proportion of negative results (86%) obtained from microscopic examination

underscores the need for cultural method and clinical diagnosis to accurately identify and

confirm TB in HIV/AIDS patients who are sputum negative but may be co-infected. This work

confirms that there is a close link existing between active tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS infection

in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. This calls for urgent need to always screen HIV carriers for TB and

recommend preventive therapy to stop latent TB developing into active form as advocated by the

UNAIDS (WHO).