Seroprevalence of HIV infection among tuberculosis patients in Kassala, eastern Sudan

Abstract

There is strong need to address the tuberculosis (TB) and human immune deficiency (HIV) virus infection convergence. Aiming to investigate the seroprevalence of HIV among TB patients all notified cases of TB that were reported in Kassala Teaching Hospital, eastern Sudan, during January 2008– through December 2010 were reviewed and analyzed. There were 858 TB patients enrolled in the study, of these 152 (17.7%) were counseled, 109 (12.7%) underwent HIV testing. The overall HIV infection rate was 18.3% among the investigated patients while the type of the disease was not associated with HIV co infection. Low CD4 (< 200\cu.mm 3 ) count was significantly associated with HIV co infection (P value 0.5 and 000 respectively). In conclusion there is high seroprevalance rate of HIV among TB patients in Kassala, eastern Sudan; thus urgent intensified intervention is needed including voluntary screening for all tuberculosis patients.