Tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients in a large industrial center

Abstract

Features of tuberculosis (TB) in HIV-infected patients were studied in a large industrial center. Data from outpatient and inpatient medical charts and yearly TB reports in Samara during 2004-2005 have been analyzed. During the study period tuberculosis was diagnosed in 199 HIV-infected patients in Samara. Morbidity for tuberculosis among the HIV-infected patients was 1438.3 per 100,000 of HIV-infected persons compared to that of 61.2 per 100,000 of total population in Samara. Clinical TB types in HIV-infected patients were the following: infiltrative TB in 124 patients (62.3 %), disseminated TB in 6 patients (3 %), caseating pneumonia in 7 patients (3.5 %), focal TB in 8 patients (4 %), pleural TB in 10 patients (5 %), tuberculoma in 7 patients (3.5 %), fibrocavitary TB in 25 patients (12.6 %), and other forms in 12 patients (6.1 %). Majority of patients were males (M/F 6.5/1). The average age was 27 years ranged from 18 to 58 yrs. AFB smear or culturing for M. tuberculosis was positive in 161 patients (80.9 %), 90 patients (45.2 %) had positive AFB smear. Thirty eight patients (19.1 %) were negative for M. tuberculosis. Therefore, the morbidity for tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients was 23 times higher than that in the whole population of the region. Infiltrative tuberculosis with lung tissue destruction was the most common. M. tuberculosis was found in 80.9 % of the patients. HIV-infected patients with TB represent epidemiological risk for other population. Further increase in TB and HIV co-infections could be expected.