Study of intestinal parasites among the immunosuppressed patients attending a tertiary-care center in Northeast India

Abstract

Background: Intestinal parasitic infestations cause a variety of clinical conditions, ranging from asymptomatic infestations to life-threatening situations. This study will highlight the importance of screening for intestinal parasites in immunosuppressed patients and increasing awareness of occurrence of intestinal parasites in this population. Objective: To understand the prevalence and demonstration of intestinal parasitic infestations among the immunosuppressed patients and determine the association of intestinal parasite and clinical presentation among these patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 149 immunosuppressed patients were included in the study. The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was diagnosed by microscopic examination of stool specimens. Smears were stained by Kinyoun’s modified acid-fast stain. Stool samples were also examined after Sheather’s sugar floatation and formol-ether concentration techniques. Result: Of the 149 patients included in the study, parasitic infestation was present in 53.02%. The highest prevalence of parasitic infestation was found in patients with cancers 80% (12 of 15). Overall, 106 (71.1%) patients showed gastrointestinal symptoms, of which 63(59.4%) patients were positive for intestinal parasites. The most common parasite isolated was Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar. The parasite prevalence with use of routine method was found to be 37% and with Sheather’s sucrose floatation and formal-ether sedimentation method was found to be 43% and 52.3%, respectively. Conclusion: This study thus highlights the importance of testing for intestinal parasites in immunosuppressed patients and emphasizes the necessity awareness among clinicians regarding the occurrence of these parasites in this population and health education of the population for food hygiene.