Prevalence of mycobacterium tuberculosis in Human immunodeficiency virus patients at art centre Agbor, Nigeria

Aim: The prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients is a dual epidemic problem of major concern worldwide especially in Africa where there is upsurge of the disease. This study is set to determine the prevalence of PTB among HIV patients.

Methods: A total of 489 patients were recruited into the study, 173(35.4%) were males, while 316 (64.6%) were females between January 2012 and December 2013. HIV status and Mycobacterium tuberculosis were determined using WHO systems two and Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) staining technique respectively.

Results: Prevalence of 10.6%, 79.6% and 9.8% was obtained for HIV/PTB co infection, HIV and PTB respectively. A prevalence of 5.1% recorded for HIV/PTB co infection is highest among age group 31-45years, followed by 2.7% and 1.6% in the age groups 16-30 and 46-60years respectively. The lowest prevalence of 0.2% each was observed in the age groups 61-75 and 76-90 years.

Conclusion: There is need for more advocacy and proper monitoring of infected patients to check the spread of HIV infections especially in a depressed economy like Nigeria in order to further reduce cases of PTB.