OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS DIAGNOSED IN PATIENTS INFECTED WITH THE HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV) AT THE SERVICE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF UHC (UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL CENTER) YALGADO OUÉDRAOGO, BURKINA FASO

Abstract

Introduction: Sub-Saharan Africa remains one of the regions most affected by HIV infection with severe lethality.Most deaths of patients living with HIV are caused by opportunistic infections. Objective: to determine the prevalence of opportunistic infections among patients living with HIV in hospital serving infectious diseases of UHC YO of Ouagadougou. Patients and Methods:This is a cross-sectional descriptive study covering a 14-month period from 1 January 2017 to 28 February 2018. Included were all HIV-positive patients, hospitalized at the service of Infectious Diseases, in which an opportunistic infection was diagnosed on the basis of clinical and/or para-clinical arguments. Results: During the study period a total of 55 patients living with HIV were hospitalized in the infectious disease unit,35 of whom had at least one opportunistic infection or 63.6% of the patients.The average age of patients was 37 years with extremes of 18 and 66 years.Twenty-two patients were female versus 13 male, a sex ratio = 0.59. HIV1 was involved in 97% of patients.The mean TCD4 lymphocyte rate was 156 cell/mm3 with extremes of 7 and 718 cell/mm3.Tuberculosis and digestive mycosis were the most frequently diagnosed opportunistic infections. Opportunistic infection was the circumstance for HIV testing in two patients.She revealed immune restoration syndrome in two other patients.Nineteen patients were already on antiretroviral treatment upon admission to the service.Half of the patients on treatment were in therapeutic failure.The evolution was marked by 26.5% lethality. Conclusion:The frequency of opportunistic infections is high in patients living with HIV.Their prevention requires early detection of HIV infection and antiretroviral treatment.