Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus in ophthalmic surgical patients.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus in one hundred and sixteen (116) ophthalmic patients who had surgery over a two year period (July 2003 to June 2005) in the Department ofOphthalmology of the University ofBenin Teaching Hospital, Benin City.

Materials And Methods: A two year prospective study was carried out on 116 ophthalmic patients who had surgery between July 2003 and June 2005, A total of 116 patients were screened for HIV 1 & 2. An informed consent was obtained from all the patients. Patients who did not give their consent were excluded from the study.

Results: The total number of patients screened was one hundred and sixteen (116).There were 61 males and 55 females The age range was lyear to 78years with a mean age of 46 +/- 22.2 years (SD). The highest number of patients, 25 was found in the age group 61-70 years, comprising 21.6 of the total number of patients, followed by 24 patients in the 51 60 years age group. Three (3) patients comprising 2.6% were HIV positive. There were 2 females aged 25 and 50 years and a male aged 42years. The 25 year old female presented with squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva, while the 57 year old woman had panophthalmitis. The male patient had herpes zoster ophthalmicus. He developed corneal opacities as complications of herpes zoster and had a peripheral iridectomy done to improve his vision.

Conclusion: Although the HIV seropositivity rate of 2.6% is low, there is a need to do routine testing for HIV seropositivity in ophthalmic surgical patients who are billed for surgery as it gives them an opportunity to know their HIV status, thus enabling them to take appropriate preventive or treatment measures where necessary. HIV screening should be mandatory for high risk patients such as those with panophthalmitis, herpes zoster and squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva that are markers for HIV.