Pneumococcal pneumonia complicates presentation of pulmonary tuberculosis and pseudomembranous candidiasis, predictive of unknown HIV infection in Ekpoma Nigeria

Abstract

This study outlined how pneumococcal pneumonia complicated the clinical presentations of pulmonary tuberculosis and showed the predictive value of Pseudomembranous candidiasis (PC) in detection of unknown Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Ekpoma. Out of 510 sputum samples analyzed, bacteria and fungi were identified using standard microbiological methods and sera of 240 patients, with undiagnosed PC, whose sputum had Candida albicans, were screened for HIV. Exactly 44.1% were co-infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis while 40.2% had M. tuberculosis and C. albicans. Out of 260 patients clinically diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis, 23.1% had Streptococcus pneumoniae, while 69.3% of 150 patients clinically diagnosed with pneumonia had M. tuberculosis. Exactly 79.2% of 240 patients with PC, had undetected HIV. Pneumococcal pneumonia complicated the clinical diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. PC was 79.2% predictive of undiagnosed HIV infection. Full laboratory investigation remains invaluable in the management of mixed infections.