Multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in HIV-infected persons, Peru

During 1999 to 2000, we identified HIV-infected persons with new episodes of tuberculosis (TB) at 10 hospitals in Lima, Peru, and a random sample of other Lima residents with TB. Multidrug-resistant (MDR)-TB was documented in 35 (43%) of 81 HIV-positive patients and 38 (3.9%) of 965 patients who were HIV-negative or of unknown HIV status (p<0.001). HIV-positive patients with MDR-TB were concentrated at three hospitals that treat the greatest numbers of HIV-infected persons with TB. Of patients with TB, those with HIV infection differed from those without known HIV infection in having more frequent prior exposure to clinical services and more frequent previous TB therapy or prophylaxis. However, MDR-TB in HIV-infected patients was not associated with previous TB therapy or prophylaxis. MDR-TB is an ongoing problem in HIV-infected persons receiving care in public hospitals in Lima and Callao; they represent sentinel cases for a potentially larger epidemic of nosocomial MDR-TB.     

The new tuberculosis

Despite the fact that there are 8 million new cases of tuberculosis (TB) annually and 3 million deaths, TB has been a neglected public health priority, primarily because effective chemotherapy has led to a dramatic decrease in cases in industrialized countries and most cases in developing countries occur in adults. It has only been recently that the emergence of multi-drug resistant TB and the rapid disease progression in HIV-infected persons has led to the application of the methods of modern basic science to TB. Population movement among refugees and immigrants and the neglect of the public health infrastructure have also led to increases in the number of cases worldwide. TB and HIV interact in 4 ways: TB may become reactivated in an HIV-infected person; there may be a primary TB infection, an HIV-positive person may suffer reinfection; or TB may alter the natural history of the HIV infection. In developing countries, the TB seen in association with HIV is believed to be reactivation of latent infection. HIV seropositivity is associated with a 30-50% lifetime risk of TB as compared with a 10% risk in the uninfected. Reactivation of TB in HIV positive people causes an additional 250,000 cases in Africa each year. HIV changes the course of TB; first time exposure is associated with 30-40% attack rates, short incubation periods, and rapid progression of the disease. It is also suggested that TB may hasten the progression of HIV, although this has not been proved. HIV-associated cases of TB will continue to increase in Africa, but in the future the largest number of co-infected persons will be in Asia. The clinical manifestations of HIV-related TB become more severe according to the progression of the immunodeficiency. Patients dying of AIDS who also have TB usually have extremely heavy mycobacterial burdens with widespread, probably incurable, TB. Being HIV-positive is also associated more often with sputum-negative pulmonary or extrapulmonary TB and with atypical radiological manifestations such as absence of cavitation, absence of localization to the upper zones, and the presence of hilar adenopathy, effusions, or infiltrates. Diagnosis may, therefore, be more difficult in cases of HIV infection. Although a greater mortality is found in HIV-positive patients (perhaps associated with complications of other bacterial infections), TB can be treated successfully in HIV-infected people. The World Health Organization recommends short-course chemotherapy of isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamind for 2 months followed by 4 months of isoiazid and rifampicin or 6 months of isoniazid and ethambutol. The risk of recurrence is greater if non-rifampicin regimens are used and is 3-34 times greater than in seronegative cases. Treatment is complicated by the fact that 18-20% of HIV-positive people have adverse reactions to thiacetazone which presents as a skin condition and can lead to death. Proposed solutions to this problem are to replace thiacetazone with another drug, replace thiacetazone only in HIV-positive persons (testing all patients for HIV), or educating staff and patients about the need to discontinue the drug if a rash occurs. Donor funding will be necessary to adopt a single worldwide approach with the least side effects. Policy decisions must also be made to create a programmatic approach to preventing HIV-associated TB.     

Reported HIV status of tuberculosis patients--United States, 1993-2005

Knowing the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status of tuberculosis (TB) patients is essential to optimal patient management. TB is an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining opportunistic condition. Patients with both TB and HIV infection are five times more likely to die during anti-TB treatment than patients who are not HIV infected (CDC, unpublished data, 2003). HIV infection is the greatest known risk factor for progression from latent TB infection to TB disease. In the United States, after TB exposure and infection, HIV-infected persons who do not receive appropriate treatment progress to TB disease over 5 years at a rate 10 times greater than that for persons not infected with HIV. In 1989, CDC recommended that all TB patients be offered HIV testing and, in 2006, called for routine HIV screening of all TB patients after the patient is notified that testing will be performed, unless the patient declines (opt-out screening). In addition to enabling optimal patient management, knowing the HIV status (i.e., positive or negative) of TB patients helps public health agencies to identify HIV-infected contacts of TB patients. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can reduce the progression to TB disease, TB relapse, and death. To assess reported HIV status of TB patients and selected characteristics of TB patients with HIV infection, CDC analyzed data from the U.S. National TB Surveillance System for the period 1993-2005. This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that 1) reporting of HIV status among TB patients increased from 35% in 1993 to 68% in 2003, 2) HIV status of 31% of TB patients was unknown in 2005, 3) 9% of TB patients were HIV positive in 2005, and 4) groups of TB patients at greater risk for HIV infection included injection-drug users (IDUs), noninjection-drug users (NIDUs), homeless persons, non-Hispanic blacks, correctional-facility inmates, and alcohol abusers. Increased promotion of routine HIV testing and rapid HIV tests might increase acceptability of testing, which would allow health-care providers to know the HIV status of a greater percentage of TB patients and enable them to provide optimal care.     

云南省2010—2013年HIV阳性结核病患者抗结核疗效影响因素

目的分析云南省人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）阳性结核病（TB）患者抗结核疗效的影响因素。方法利用TB/HIV双重感染防治监控评价体系,分析云南省2010—2013年登记TB患者HIV抗体检测结果,比较HIV阳性TB患者和HIV阴性TB患者的特征及抗结核治疗效果。数据采用单因素χ²检验,筛选有影响变量进入多因素logistic回归模型,分析影响HIV阳性TB患者治疗成功的因素。结果共登记报告HIV检测阳性TB患者1 526例,HIV阴性TB患者51 838例。与HIV阴性患者比较,HIV阳性TB患者痰涂片阴性比例较高（67.96% vs 56.00%,χ²=327.54,P<0.001）,复治比例较高（22.87% vs 3.69%,χ²=1 342.6,P<0.001）、治疗成功率较低（88.07% vs 95.81%,χ²=210.08,P<0.001）、非结核死亡率较高（5.77% vs 0.61%,χ²=524.73,P<0.001）;诊断肺结核时CD4<200 个/μL 和治疗分类为复治是影响HIV阳性患者抗结核疗效的危险因素。结论及早发现HIV阳性TB患者,结合其CD4水平及时提供抗结核治疗,加强患者随访管理。     

Preventing tuberculosis among HIV-infected persons: a survey of physicians' knowledge and practices

BACKGROUND: Guidelines exist for screening, diagnosing, and preventing tuberculosis (TB) among HIV-infected persons, but their application and utility are unknown. METHODS: We conducted a survey of knowledge and practices among 1,300 physicians in the San Francisco Bay area to assess their practices towards TB among HIV-infected persons. RESULTS: Of 630 respondents, 350 (56%) provided care for HIV-infected persons. Thirty-four percent of the respondents had seen the most recent guidelines for preventing tuberculosis among HIV-infected persons; 65% routinely provide information to HIV-infected patients about the risks of exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis; 39% provide annual tuberculin skin testing (TST) to HIV-infected patients without a history of a positive test; 86% knew that >/=5-mm induration is considered a positive TST result in HIV-infected persons; and 47% provide a 12-month regimen of chemoprophylaxis for HIV-infected persons who have a positive TST but not active tuberculosis. Physician specialty and experience with HIV-infected persons were not strongly correlated; experience was a better predictor of correct knowledge and practices. CONCLUSIONS: Many physicians were not aware of the standards of care for preventing tuberculosis among HIV-infected patients, even in a geographic area with a high prevalence of M. tuberculosis and HIV.     

Incidence and Spread of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-associated Infection among Aba Federal Prison Inmates in Nigeria

The study was undertaken to determine transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis within the prison environment. In total, 168 Aba Federal prison inmates in Nigeria were evaluated for tuberculosis (TB) by sputum-smear microscopy and sputum culture, simultaneously, and for HIV status by serology. They were subsequently followed up for one year for fresh Mycobacterium-associated infection by tuberculin skin testing or for development of TB and for HIV infection or AIDS. Ninety-one (54.2%) of the 168 prison inmates had infection due to Mycobacterium, and three (3.3%) of them were sputum-smear- and culture-positive while 41 (24.4%), including one (2.4%) with concomitant TB, were HIV-infected. In a one-year follow-up study, 11 (19.3%) of 57 tuberculin skin test (TST)- and HIV-negative inmates became TST-positive and one (1.8%) HIV-positive, eight (13.8%) of the 58 TST-positive but HIV-negative inmates developed TB, and one (1.7%) became HIV-infected: six (24.0%) of 25 TST- and HIV-positive inmates developed TB while five (33.3%) of 15 TST-negative but HIV-positive inmates became TST-positive, and one (6.7%) progressed to AIDS. The duration of imprisonment did not influence the rates of infection, and the transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis did not necessarily require sharing a cell with a TB case.Key words: HIV, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Prisoners, Tuberculosis, Tuberculin skin test, Nigeria     

Estimating HIV levels and trends among patients of tuberculosis clinics

Symptomatic tuberculosis (TB) can occur as an opportunistic disease in immunosuppressed persons who are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and who have been previously infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Increases in TB cases have occurred in areas which have reported large numbers of cases of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and a high proportion of these TB cases have been HIV seropositive. Therefore, increasing numbers of HIV-infected persons may be found in TB clinics and hospitals. HIV serologic surveys in TB clinics and hospitals providing clinical services to TB patients are needed to assess the local prevalence of HIV infection in TB patients and the consequent need for public health intervention to prevent further spread of HIV and TB infection. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in collaboration with State and local health departments, has initiated HIV surveillance of patients with confirmed and suspected TB in TB clinics and hospitals in the United States. Blinded (serologic test results not linked to identifiable persons) HIV seroprevalence surveys are conducted in sentinel TB clinics and hospitals that provide TB clinical services each year to obtain estimates of the level of HIV infection in TB patients and to follow trends in infection over time. Nonblinded (voluntary) surveys will also be conducted to evaluate behaviors that have placed TB patients at risk for or protected them against HIV infection. Data from these surveys will be used to target education and prevention and control programs for TB and HIV infection and to monitor changes in behavior in response to such programs.     

The cost to health services of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection among tuberculosis patients in Sudan

OBJECTIVE: To compare the cost of managing HIV-positive and HIV-negative tuberculosis (TB) patients in Sudan. METHODS: A prospective cohort of 1797 consecutive TB patients referred to the chest clinics within the general health services from March 1998 to March 2000 were included in this study. Patients were tested blindly for HIV; 1724 were HIV-negative and 73 were HIV-positive. FINDINGS: The total cost associated with management of tuberculosis was significantly higher for HIV-positive, as compared with HIV-negative TB patients (105.08 US dollars versus 73.92, p=0.003). This difference was due mainly to greater costs for hospitalization of those HIV-positive, as compared with those HIV-negative (190.80 versus 141.00, p=0.001). The differences in cost for diagnostic tests, for drugs, for management of adverse reactions and for intercurrent symptoms were not significant (p>0.05) between HIV-positive TB patients and HIV-negative TB patients. Side effects of treatment were slightly more common among persons without HIV infection than among HIV-positive patients (14 and 9.6%, respectively). The total cost of management of HIV-positive patients in this series of patients was 6% of all costs for TB case management and the marginal cost attributable to HIV-positivity was 0.9% of the total cost. CONCLUSION: The management of the HIV-positive TB case was more costly than that of the HIV-negative case in this stage of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Sudan.     

Trends and Characteristics of HIV Infection among Suspected Tuberculosis Cases in Public Health Centers in Korea: 2001–2013

ObjectivesThe Republic of Korea reports approximately 35,000 new tuberculosis (TB) patients each year, and the number of HIV-infected individuals is steadily increasing. Public health centers (PHCs) conduct TB diagnosis and treatment for risk groups in communities. This study aimed to identify possible trends and characteristics of HIV infection among suspected TB cases in PHCs.MethodsStudy subjects were suspected TB cases in PHCs who agreed to be tested for HIV from 2001 to 2013. Trends in HIV seroprevalence were assessed through a series of annual cross-sectional analyses. We analyzed suspected TB cases, and HIV-infected individuals among suspected TB cases, by gender, age, nationality, and region.ResultsThe number of suspected tuberculosis cases who took an HIV test in PHCs was approximately 6,000 each year from 2001 to 2013. Among the suspected TB cases who took an HIV test, the number of those aged 20–39 is gradually decreasing, while the number of those aged 50–69 is increasing. During this period, 32 HIV-infected individuals were identified; the majority were men (94%), aged 30–49 (68%), Korean (94%), and residents in a metropolitan area (53%). HIV seroprevalence decreased from 8.2 per 10,000 persons in 2001 to 1.9 per 10,000 persons in 2013.ConclusionThis study has identified trends and characteristics of HIV infection among suspected tuberculosis cases in PHCs. This national data provides a basis for public health policy for HIV and tuberculosis infections.     

Screening HIV-infected persons for tuberculosis--Cambodia, January 2004-February 2005

Worldwide, tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most common causes of death among persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The World Health Organization recommends screening HIV-infected persons for TB disease after HIV diagnosis, before initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), and during routine follow-up care. In 2003, health officials in Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodia, in conjunction with CDC and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), began a pilot project to increase TB screening among persons with HIV infection. Subsequently, CDC analyzed and evaluated data from the first 14 months of the project. This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which determined that, during January 2004--February 2005, among persons with HIV infection at voluntary counseling and confidential testing (VCCT) clinics, 37% were screened for TB disease, and 24% of those screened had TB disease diagnosed. On the basis of these findings, the Provincial Health Department (PHD) took action to increase awareness of the risk for TB among HIV-infected persons. During the 3 months after these measures were implemented, the TB screening rate among persons with HIV infection increased to 61%. Evaluation of projects like the one conducted in Banteay Meanchey Province can help develop an evidence-based approach for removing barriers to screening HIV-infected persons for TB.     

艾滋病与结核混合感染的特点及防治

TB是艾滋病患者最常见的威胁生命的机会性感染之一,两者相互影响,相互促进,大大增加了患者的死亡率。在HIV感染早期,TB的临床表现类似于HIV阴性患者;但在HIV感染的中后期,TB的表现趋于非典型化,加之又缺乏简便有效的诊断方法,诊断相对困难。艾滋病混合感染TB的患者,总的治疗原则同HIV阴性者,DOT和HAART可以显著改善其预后,但抗病毒药物与抗结核药物间副作用的叠加、药代动力学的相互影响及“反常反应”更常见等问题使这一类患者的治疗复杂化。对于高危患者进行有效的预防,有助于减少艾滋病患者混合感染TB的发病率和死亡率。     

Tuberculosis prevention and control in large jails: a challenge to tuberculosis elimination

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the extent to which 20 large jail systems have implemented national recommendations for tuberculosis (TB) prevention and control in correctional facilities. METHODS: Data were collected through questionnaires to jail medical directors and TB control directors, observation at the jails, and abstraction of medical records of inmates with TB disease and latent TB infection. RESULTS: Twenty percent of jail systems (4/20) had conducted an assessment of risk for TB transmission in their facilities, and 55% (11/20) monitored tuberculin skin test conversions of inmates and staff. Sixty-five percent (13/20) of jails had an aggregate record-keeping system for tracking TB status and treatment, which was usually paper based. Forty-five percent of jails (9/20) had policies to offer HIV counseling and testing to tuberculin skin test-positive patients, and 75% (15/20) screen HIV-infected inmates with chest radiographs. Three quarters of jails (15/20) had policies to always isolate patients with suspected or confirmed pulmonary TB in an airborne infection isolation room. Half of jails with airborne infection isolation rooms (6/12) conformed to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for monitoring negative pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements are needed in conducting TB risk assessments and evaluations to determine priorities and reduce risk of transmission. Inadequate medical information systems are impeding TB control and evaluation efforts. Although HIV infection is the greatest cofactor for development of TB disease, jails have inadequate information on patients' HIV status to make informed decisions in screening and management of TB and latent TB infection. Jails need to improve the use of environmental controls.     

HIV-associated tuberculosis in developing countries: clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment.

This article reviews the clinical aspects and diagnosis of HIV-associated tuberculosis in developing countries, and summarizes WHO's recommendations for treatment. According to WHO estimates (early 1992) over 4 million persons worldwide have been infected with HIV and tuberculosis; 95% of them are in the developing countries. Clinical features of HIV-associated pulmonary tuberculosis in adults are frequently atypical, particularly in the late stage of HIV infection, with non-cavitary disease, lower lobe infiltrates, hilar lymphadenopathy and pleural effusion. More typical post-primary tuberculosis with upper lobe infiltrates and cavitations is seen in the earlier stages of HIV infection. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis is reported more frequently, despite the difficulties in diagnosing it. WHO's recent guidelines recommend 6-month short-course chemotherapy with isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol for patients with HIV-associated tuberculosis. The older 12-month regimen without rifampicin is much less effective. Streptomycin should not be used, because of the risk of transmitting blood-borne pathogens through contaminated needles. Thioacetazone should be abandoned, because of severe adverse reactions observed among HIV-infected patients. The roles of preventive chemotherapy and BCG vaccination for prevention of tuberculosis are also briefly discussed.     

HIV testing and treatment among tuberculosis patients --- Kenya, 2006-2009

In resource-limited settings, high case-fatality rates are seen among tuberculosis (TB) patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, especially during the early months of TB treatment. HIV prevalence among TB patients has been estimated to be as high as 80%--90% in some areas of sub-Saharan Africa. In 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended increasing collaboration between HIV and TB programs. Since then, many countries, including Kenya, have worked to increase TB/HIV collaborative activities. In 2005, the Kenya Division of Leprosy, Tuberculosis, and Lung Disease (DLTLD) added questions regarding HIV testing and treatment to the existing TB surveillance system.* This report summarizes HIV data collected from Kenya's extended TB surveillance system during 2006--2009. During this period, HIV testing among TB patients increased from 60% in 2006 to 88% in 2009, and the prevalence of HIV infection among TB patients tested decreased from 52% to 44%. In 2009, 92% of HIV-infected TB patients received cotrimoxazole prophylaxis for the prevention of opportunistic infections. Although these data highlight the increase in HIV services provided to TB patients, only 34% of HIV-infected TB patients started antiretroviral therapy (ART) while being treated for TB. Innovative interventions are needed to increase HIV treatment among TB patients in Kenya, especially considering the 2009 WHO guidelines recommending that all HIV-infected TB patients be started on ART as soon as possible, regardless of CD4 count. Although these guidelines have not yet been implemented in Kenya, officials are working to identify methods of increasing access to ART for TB patients.     

HIV-associated pulmonary tuberculosis

The problems of diagnosis, treatment and management of tuberculosis associated with HIV infection in Africa are placed in perspective by the former director of the Kenya Medical Research Institute. Tuberculosis (TB) has increased as much as 3-fold in many African countries due to heightened susceptibility of HIV patients. HIV infection may both re-activate latent TB, which virtually all Africans harbor, or increase the likelihood of exogenous infection or re-infection by TB. In most of Africa diagnosis by stained sputum smear is standard: in late AIDS, this method may yield false negatives due to non-pulmonary TB, or pulmonary TB with a negative smear. Chest x-rays are also atypical, since cavitation of the upper zones is not as common, but lobar consolidation and lower zone involvement, and various unusual findings are likely. There is no evidence that mycobacterium avium intracellular has occurred in Africa. Treatment in Africa often centers on long-term thiazina (thiacetazone and isoniazid combined). HIV+ patients are more prone to skin rashes or even lethal epidermal neurolysis as a complication of treatment. Treated patients should be monitored for other symptoms such as diarrhea, recurrent fevers, other chest infections, cerebral space occupying lesions, urinary infections. Many can be treated with broad spectrum antibiotics such as chloramphenicol. Nursing HIV-infected young adults is an expensive and burdensome prospect for overworked and underpaid staff, but curing TB in AIDS patients is possible and worthwhile because of the public health advantages.     

A Meta-Analysis of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis in Sub-Saharan Africa: How Strongly Associated with Previous Treatment and HIV Co-Infection?

Background

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the fight against tuberculosis (TB) has encountered a great challenge because of the emergence of drug resistant TB strains and the high prevalence of HIV infection. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the association of drug-resistant TB with anti-TB drug treatment history and HIV co-infection.

Methods

After electronic based literature search in the databases of Medline, HINARI, EMBASE and the Cochrane library, article selection and data extraction were carried out. HIV co-infection and previous history of TB treatment were used as predictors for the occurrence of any anti-TB drug resistant or multiple drug resistant TB (MDR-TB). The risk ratios for each included study and for the pooled sample were computed using the random-effects model. Heterogeneity test, sensitivity analyses and funnel plots were also done.

Results

The pooled analysis showed that the risk of developing drug-resistant TB to at least one anti-TB drug was about 3 times higher in individuals who had a previous history of anti-TB treatment than new TB cases. The risk of having MDR-TB in previously anti-TB treated TB cases was more than 5-fold higher than that of new TB cases. Resistance to Ethambutol and Rifampicin was more than fivefold higher among the previously treated with anti-TB drugs. However, HIV infection was not associated with drug-resistant TB.

Conclusion

There was a strong association of previous anti-TB treatment with MDR-TB. Primary treatment warrants special emphasis, and screening for anti-TB drugs sensitivity has to be strengthened.     

Changes in Escherichia coli resistance to co-trimoxazole in tuberculosis patients and in relation to co-trimoxazole prophylaxis in Thyolo,Malawi

In Thyolo district, Malawi, an operational research study is being conducted on the efficacy and feasibility of co-trimoxazole prophylaxis in preventing deaths in HIV-positive patients with tuberculosis (TB). A series of cross-sectional studies were carried out in 1999 and 2001 to determine (i) whether faecal Escherichia coli resistance to co-trimoxazole in TB patients changed with time, and (ii) whether the resistance pattern was different in HIV-positive TB patients who were taking co-trimoxazole prophylaxis. Co-trimoxazole resistance among E. coli isolates in TB patients at the time of registration was 60% in 1999 and 77% in 2001 (P < 0.01). Resistance was 89% among HIV-infected TB patients (receiving cotrimoxazole), while in HIV-negative patients (receiving anti-TB therapy alone) it was 62% (P < 0.001). The study shows a significant increase of E. coli resistance to co-trimoxazole in TB patients which is particularly prominent in HIV-infected patients on co-trimoxazole prophylaxis. Since a high degree of plasmid-mediated transfer of resistance exists between E. coli and the Salmonella species, these findings could herald limitations on the short- and long-term benefits to be expected from the use of co-trimoxazole prophylaxis in preventing non-typhoid Salmonella bacteraemia and enteritis in HIV-infected TB patients in Malawi.     

Universal HIV screening at a major metropolitan TB clinic: HIV prevalence and high-risk behaviors among TB patients.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the outcome of implementing a policy of universal screening of patients with tuberculosis (TB) for HIV infection at a major metropolitan public health TB clinic. METHODS: HIV serologic testing was completed on 768 (93%) of 825 eligible patients. Ninety-eight HIV-positive cases (13%) were compared with 670 HIV-negative cases. The presence of adult HIV risk factors was determined by structured interview and review of medical records. RESULTS: One or more HIV risk factors were present in 93% of HIV-positive cases and 42% of HIV-negative cases. CONCLUSIONS: The metropolitan TB clinic is well suited for HIV screening, and HIV-antibody testing and counseling should be provided to all TB patients.     

TB and AIDS

The Indian National Tuberculosis Survey has indicated that 10 million persons above 5 years of age have pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), of whom 2.5 million are infectious. The annual infection rate amounts to 1.5%. In an average district with a population of 1.5 million, there are about 500 active, infectious TB cases and about 20,000 radiologically active cases. The World Health Organization has declared TB a global health emergency. The pandemic of AIDS had infected 13 million people worldwide by early 1993, and by the year 2000 over 40 million will be infected. In May 1986 only 1 AIDS case was reported, but by May 31, 1994, 728 cases of AIDS and 15,325 cases of HIV infections were reported. At the present rate of infection, there will be 5 million people infected with HIV by 2000 in India. HIV infection is the greatest risk factor for developing TB because of the multiplication of tubercle bacilli in quiescent foci, the progression of dormant infection to disease, and superinfection. The incidence of TB has doubled in the course of 5 years in some countries where HIV is epidemic. 30-70% of TB patients in these countries are estimated to be HIV-positive, imposing significant burden on national health services. On the other hand, efficient health services can still cure TB in HIV-positive patients and forestall the spread of the diseases. One-third of the world's population is infected with TB, and the lives of these people are shortened if they contract HIV. Worse still, for HIV-infected people exposure to TB means death, often within weeks. The only protection against the airborne TB germ is the complete cure of TB patients. At a 1993 conference in London several TB control measures were suggested: national TB control programs offering affordable treatment; faster diagnosis; education and incentives to increase patient compliance; proper drug supplies and quality control; education of influential people; and fight against poverty.     

Alterations in serum levels of trace elements in tuberculosis and HIV infections

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate serum concentrations of trace elements in tuberculosis (TB) patients with or with out human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection before and after anti-TB chemotherapy. SUBJECTS: A total of 155 TB patients, 74 of which were coinfected with HIV, and 31 healthy controls from Gondar, Ethiopia. METHODS: Serum levels of copper, zinc, selenium and iron were determined using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer from all subjects at baseline and from 44 TB patients (22 with HIV coinfection) at the end of an intensive phase of anti-TB chemotherapy. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the concentrations of iron, zinc and selenium were significantly lower (P<0.05) while that of copper and copper/zinc ratio was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the serum of TB patients. TB patients with HIV coinfection had significantly lower serum zinc and selenium concentrations and significantly higher copper/zinc ratio compared to that in TB patients without HIV coinfection (P<0.05). The serum concentration of zinc had significantly increased at the end of intensive phase of anti-TB chemotherapy in patients without HIV coinfection (P<0.05). An increase in serum selenium level was observed in TB patients with or without HIV coinfection after therapy. On the contrary, serum copper concentration and copper/zinc ratio declined significantly after anti-TB chemotherapy irrespective of HIV serostatus (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that TB patients have altered profile of trace elements in their sera. This warrants the need for further investigations so that strategies for trace elements supplementation can be planned in addition to their potential as diagnostic parameters in monitoring responses to anti-TB chemotherapy.