Abstract

Background: The risk of developing Tuberculosis (TB)is more than 40 times greater in people living with human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) than among those who remained safe from this infection. The burden of these infectious diseases is huge in many underdeveloped countries. Tuberculosis and AIDS have complex health and social determinants with large impacts on quality of life. TB and HIV have been closely linked since the emergence of AIDS. Worldwide, Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the most common opportunistic bacterium affecting HIV-seropositive individuals. The GeneXpert assay represents a major breakthrough in diagnostics for tuberculosis. The immunochromatography technique and PCR play important role for HIV diagnosis. The rapid screening assays can be used close to the point of care by operators with minimal technical expertise, enabling correct diagnostic approach towards confirmation of tuberculosis by Gene Xpert.

Objective: To evaluate presence of human immunodeficiency virus in tuberculosis patients and to compare the results of polymerase chain reaction with two screening tests (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Immunochromatography).

Study Design: Comparative analytical study

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pathology, Liaquat University Hospital Jamshoro/Hyderabad from 1st January 2017 to 31st December 2017.

Methodology: Three hundred and thirtydiagnosed patients of tuberculosis were included. Their demographic data was recorded and analyzed. Presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in these subjects was ruled out by two screening parameters immunochromatography (ICT) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Diagnosis of tuberculosis was confirmed by Gene Xpert. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used as the confirmatory diagnostic tool to validate the comparative results of screening tests.

Results: Higher prevalence of TB infection observed in male subjects. The prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection in Tuberculosis patients was 1.8%. Both the ICT and PCR tests were 100% sensitive and 99% specific, proving to be important tools for diagnosis of HIV. Among different age groups, 20-29 years of female subjects were found to be more affected. Co infection was more prevalent in patients with a history of blood transfusion and patients having multiple sex partners.

Conclusion: The increasing prevalence of HIV/TB co infection should be under continuous surveillance by the researchers and health care professionals of HIV and TB endemic countries.

Keywords: Human immunodeficiency virus, Tuberculosis, Polymerase chain reaction, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Immunochromatography