The immunological status of newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus-1 in Adama Hospital, Ethiopia.

Background: Tuberculosis remains a public health problem in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection in sub-Saharan Africa. Both diseases form a lethal combination, each speeding the progress of the other.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of HIV infection in newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients in Adama hospital.

Methods: Blood and sputum samples were collected from adult newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients. Sera were screened for anti-HIV antibody using rapid HIV test kits based on the National testing algorithm. The CD4 and CD8 T-cell subsets were determined using flow cytometry and the ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ were estimated using FACScan. All sputum specimens collected on three consecutive days from patients attending the tuberculosis clinic were screened for acid fast bacilli using smear microscopy.

Results: The seroprevalence of HIV among 258 patients with newly diagnosed TB was 26.4%. The median CD4 T cell count of HIV negative and HIV positive TB patients were 702 cells/mm3 and 233 cells/mm3. respectively (P < 0.05). Of the TB patients, 35.7% had extrapulmonary TB and 20% were smear-positive pulmonary TB. The CD4/CD8 ratio in HIV negative patients was 1.33 cells/mm3 compared to the 0.29 cells/mm3 in HIV positive patients. Of the 68 HIV positive TB patients. 58(85.3%) were not aware of their HIV serostatus prior to the screening in the current study.

Conclusion: In the current study the HIV seroprevalence was 26.4%. The median CD4 count was very low in the TB/HIV co-infected individuals than those infected with TB alone. Majority of the HIV infected individuals were not aware of their serostatus. Provider initiated HIV/AIDS counseling and testing in TB clinics should be strengthened