Study of Parasitic Infection in Immunosuppressive Patients and its Association with the Socio-demographic Status

Abstract

Introduction: In developing countries, immunosuppressive patients are at greater risk of parasitic infection which may cause morbidity and mortality. Socio-economic and environmental factors including lack of health hygiene in close contact with infected reservoir animal which plays an important role. Aim: To determine the prevalence of parasitic infections and their association with socio-demographic status. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study which was carried out at tertiary care hospital located in Central East India. Total 120 stool samples were collected from the immunosuppressive patients and were processed using direct wet mount preparation with saline and Lugol, formalin-ether concentration and Modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain. Different socio-demographic parameters were recorded. Statistical analysis was done using Graph Pad Prism version 8 Chi-square test. The p-value ≤0.05 was considered as statistically significant Results: Out of total 120 patients, 20 (16.7%) were found to be infected. Majority of the population were males (66.7%). Among the total positive samples, 75% (15) showed the presence of Protozoa in which 10 samples had Entamoeba histolytica. The presence of Helminths was found in 25% (5), in which three samples showed Ascaris lumbricoides and two had Taenia species (10%). Conclusion: The prevalence of parasitic infection among immunosuppressive patients in the present study was 16.7%. Entamoeba histolytica was the most commonly observed parasite. There was no significant association between prevalence of parasitic infections and socio-demographic data variables.