Tuberculosis In HIV-infected Individuals Research Articles

Incidence of active tuberculosis in HIV-infected individuals not receiving universal tuberculosis preventive treatment

Incidence of active tuberculosis in HIV-infected individuals not receiving universal tuberculosis preventive treatment

The prevalence of urogenital tuberculosis in people living with HIV

The prevalence of urogenital tuberculosis (UGT) is not well known, especially in people living with HIV, therefore, our aim was to identify the prevalence of urogenital tuberculosis in HIV-infected individuals and characterize the clinical and laboratory risk factors associated with UGT. A cross sectional study was conducted to characterize the prevalence of UGT in people living with HIV. PCR tests and specific culture were performed on samples from 181 patients living with HIV, divided into two groups: A) patients with suggestive UGT symptoms and b) hospitalized patients without any suggestive UGT symptoms. Only one case of UGT was diagnosed, with a positive PCR but negative specific culture, resulting in a prevalence of 0.55%. The patient had disseminated tuberculosis (miliary pulmonary, intestinal, and urogenital with bilateral nephromegaly) with acute febrile syndrome, no urogenital symptoms, but with microscopic hematuria and sterile pyuria. This patient had poorly controlled HIV infection with positive viral load and CD4 count below 200 cells/mm³. The prevalence of UGT in patients living with HIV is very low. However, patients with poorly controlled disease may present disseminated tuberculosis associated with UGT. Urine screening for UGT may be relevant for diagnosing disseminated tuberculosis in patients living with HIV with acute infectious syndrome.

Evaluation of the IP-10 mRNA release assay for diagnosis of TB in HIV-infected individuals.

HIV-infected individuals are susceptible to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) infection and are at high risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB). Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) are auxiliary tools in the diagnosis of TB. However, the performance of IGRAs in HIV-infected individuals is suboptimal, which limits clinical application. Interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) is an alternative biomarker for identifying M.tb infection due to its high expression after stimulation with M.tb antigens. However, whether IP-10 mRNA constitutes a target for the diagnosis of TB in HIV-infected individuals is unknown. Thus, we prospectively enrolled HIV-infected patients with suspected active TB from five hospitals between May 2021 and May 2022, and performed the IGRA test (QFT-GIT) alongside the IP-10 mRNA release assay on peripheral blood. Of the 216 participants, 152 TB patients and 48 non-TB patients with a conclusive diagnosis were included in the final analysis. The number of indeterminate results of IP-10 mRNA release assay (13/200, 6.5%) was significantly lower than that of the QFT-GIT test (42/200, 21.0%) (P = 0.000026). IP-10 mRNA release assay had a sensitivity of 65.3% (95%CI 55.9% - 73.8%) and a specificity of 74.2% (95%CI 55.4% - 88.1%), respectively; while the QFT-GIT test had a sensitivity of 43.2% (95%CI 34.1% - 52.7%) and a specificity of 87.1% (95%CI 70.2% - 96.4%), respectively. The sensitivity of the IP-10 mRNA release assay was significantly higher than that of QFT-GIT test (P = 0.00062), while no significant difference was detected between the specificities of these two tests (P = 0.198). The IP-10 mRNA release assay showed a lower dependence on CD4+ T cells than that of QFT-GIT test. This was evidenced by the fact that the QFT-GIT test had a higher number of indeterminate results and a lower sensitivity when the CD4+ T cells counts were decreased (P < 0.05), while no significant difference in the number of indeterminate results and sensitivity were observed for the IP-10 mRNA release assay among HIV-infected individuals with varied CD4+T cells counts (P > 0.05). Therefore, our study suggested that M.tb specific IP-10 mRNA is a better biomarker for diagnosis of TB in HIV-infected individuals.

Contribution of Gene Xpert MTB/RIF and epidemiology in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in PLWHIV seen at the Ignace Deen National Hospital in Conakry

Introduction: Tuberculosis and HIV are real public health problems in the world and mainly in Africa. The current challenge is to be able to diagnose TB in all PLWHA, hence the interest in evaluating the effectiveness of GeneXpert MTB/RIF in the diagnosis of pulmonary TB. Method: This is a prospective cross-sectional and descriptive study of HIV-positive patients who came for consultation during the survey period which lasted six months, from 1 February to 7 August 2021, at the Ignace Deen National Hospital in Conakry and at the Gamal Abdel Nasser University in Conakry. Data were collected and analysed using Epi-info version 7.0, Pack Office 2013 (Word, Excel and Power point). Results: Out of 402 patients received, we recorded 112 positive cases, i.e. 28% and 290 negative cases, i.e. 72%. Fluorescence microscopy gave 16% and Ziehl-Neelsen microscopy gave 14% with sensitivities of 90%, 47% and 43% respectively. 104 sample patients were sensitive to Rifampicin, i.e. 92.86% against 08 cases of resistance, i.e. 7.14%. The male sex is more represented with 53% against 47% for the female sex. All the communes of Conakry were concerned, but the communes of Matoto and Ratoma were the most represented, respectively 31% and 23%. Patients from outside Conakry had a rate of 21%, the communes of Matam 11% and Dixinn 9%. Patients from the Commune of Kaloum were the least represented with 5%. Almost all socio-professional groups are affected. Commercial agents are the most represented with 31%, followed by workers with 22%, housewives with 15%, drivers with 10%, administrative agents with 9%, pupils/students with 7% and security agents with 6%. Also all age groups are affected by HIV-TB co-infection but with the highest prevalence in the 21 to 40 age group with 56% followed by the 41 to 60 age group with 30%. The age groups least affected are those under 20 and over 60 years of age, respectively 9% and 5%. Conclusion: The present study confirms a significantly higher validity of GeneXpert MTB/RIF than microscopy in the detection of TB and its place in the prediction of multidrug resistance. Its systematic use coupled with microscopy would allow better control of tuberculosis in HIV-infected individuals.

Diagnostic and genetic markers associated with pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV-infected individuals

An important aspect of monitoring, further timely and effective treatment of HIV-TB coinfection is timely and correct diagnosis based on comprehensive clinical, laboratory and instrumental studies. Many factors play a role in the development of tuberculosis in HIV-infected people, but the key and quite important elements are the study of genetic markers and biomarkers of inflammation. A number of studies have been carried out on inflammatory markers, but IL-6, INF-γ, MIG, CRP, IL-18 remain relevant and insufficiently studied in coinfection. A comprehensive study of them will be important in the screening of HIV-TB coinfection). Determining the presence of (SNP) rs4331426 located in chromosome 18q11.2 in HIV-infected and AIDS patients will solve the issue of predisposition to the development of tuberculosis in the early stages of HIV infection and contribute to the development of further tactics of patients treatment and management.

Diagnostic value of interferon-γ release assay in HIV-infected individuals complicated with active tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Although the interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) has become a common diagnostic method for tuberculosis, its value in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive patients remains controversial. Therefore, this systematically reviews the data for exploring the diagnostic value of IGRA in HIV-infected individuals complicated with active tuberculosis, aiming to provide a clinical basis for future clinical diagnosis of the disease. Relevant studies on IGRA for diagnosing tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients were comprehensively collected from Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Medline, Cochrane Library, Chinese Sci-tech Periodical Full-text Database, Chinese Periodical Full-text Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and China Wanfang Data up to July 2020. Subsequently, Stata 15.0, an integrated statistical software, was used to analyse the sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), positive likelihood ratio (PLR) and negative likelihood ratio (NLR) to create receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves. A total of 18 high-quality articles were selected, including 20 studies, 11 of which were related to QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) and nine to T-SPOT.TB. The meta-analysis indicated that the pooled sensitivity = 0.75 (95% CI 0.63-0.85), the pooled specificity = 0.82 (95% CI 0.66-0.92), PLR = 4.25 (95% CI 1.97-9.18), NLR = 0.30 (95% CI 0.18-0.50), DOR = 14.21 (95% CI 4.38-46.09) and the area under summary ROC curve was 0.85 (95% CI 0.81-0.88). IGRA has a good diagnostic value and therefore can aid in the preliminary screening of active tuberculosis in HIV-infected individuals. Its diagnostic effectiveness can be improved by modifying and optimizing the assay design.

Method for predicting the development of tuberculosis in persons infected with HIV and held in penitentiary institutions

Aim. To create a new prognostic index that allows screening and predicting the development of tuberculosis in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), from among the suspects, accused, convicts, and assessment of how an additional diagnostic criterion can become a justification for additional preventive and anti-epidemic measures.&#x0D; Methods. A mathematical model was developed by using expert opinions and applying the logical-mathematical approach of hierarchical analysis. It includes characteristics and criteria described in the modern scientific literature that does not exclude the presence of active tuberculosis or cause its unfavorable course in HIV-infected patients. The research was carried out in two stages. At the first stage, the weighting coefficients of the predictors used were calculated, and a prognostic index was created. At the second stage, the technique was applied in practice. As a result of the study in the observation group, which consisted of 157 clinical cases, the probability of tuberculosis was calculated by using the statistical grouping method.&#x0D; Results. A model for calculating the prognostic index of the development of tuberculosis in patients with HIV infection has been developed. Based on the example of patients held in prisons, a graphical method is proposed for assessing the possibility of development/absence of tuberculosis in HIV-infected individuals, depending on the value of the prognostic index. In the practical application of the developed prognostic index, tuberculosis was diagnosed in 37 patients, and plans of preventive measures were developed in 120 patients.&#x0D; Conclusion. The developed method of screening and predicting the development of tuberculosis in patients with HIV infection makes it possible to improve the timeliness of diagnosis of tuberculosis in the early stages and to determine the need for additional preventive or anti-epidemic measures during the work to counter the spread of this disease in the institutions of the Federal Penitentiary Service.

Elevated Levels of Galectin-9 but Not Osteopontin in HIV and Tuberculosis Infections Indicate Their Roles in Detecting MTB Infection in HIV Infected Individuals.

Galectin-9 (Gal-9) and osteopontin (OPN) play immunomodulatory roles in tuberculosis and HIV infections. Evaluation of their levels as well as their interplay with different pro-inflammatory cytokines is critical to understand their role in immunopathogenesis of HIV/tuberculosis co-infection considering the complexity of the disease. Plasma levels of these proteins were measured by ELISAs in HIV-negative individuals with pulmonary (n = 21), extrapulmonary (n = 33), and latent tuberculosis (n = 22) and in HIV infected patients with pulmonary (n = 14), latent tuberculosis (n = 17), and without tuberculosis (n = 41). Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were estimated by Luminex assay. Receiver operated characteristic curve analysis was performed to evaluate discriminatory roles of these proteins. Spearman’s correlation analysis was performed with the markers of HIV and tuberculosis disease progression to evaluate their immunopathogenic roles. Gal-9 and OPN levels were higher in HIV uninfected patients with active tuberculosis than with latent tuberculosis. Gal-9 but not OPN levels were higher in HIV infected patients with active tuberculosis than with latent tuberculosis. Area under curve for Galectin-9 was >0.9 in HIV/tuberculosis co-infection and extrapulmonary tuberculosis. OPN and IL-6 levels were higher in patients with severe chest X-ray grade indicating its association with severity of the disease and positively correlated with each other. Stronger positive and negative correlations of Gal-9 levels, respectively, with viral loads and CD4 cell counts in HIV infected patients were observed than OPN levels indicating their association with HIV disease progression. Thus, significantly elevated Gal-9 levels were reported for the first time in HIV/tuberculosis co-infection and extrapulmonary tuberculosis in our study than single infections with HIV and tuberculosis. The study indicated a need for further evaluation of monitoring role of Gal-9 for detection of developing tuberculosis in HIV infected individuals. The findings also indicated differential roles of Gal-9 and OPN in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis and HIV infections.

Increasing Burden of Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis in HIV Infected Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: The increasing burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in HIV infected individuals is a serious threat to global tuberculosis control programs. The study aimed to summarize the available evidences on the association of HIV infection and the development of MDR-TB and, finally, to provide an up-to-datepooled estimate of risks. Methods: We searched on PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect databases to select eligible studies for our systematic review and meta-analysis, published between January 1, 2010, and July 30,2019. Two sets of reviewers independently extracted data and assessed the methodological quality of the studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Subgroup analysis was pre-specified to perform according to the continent, country, income level, study design, mean/median age, and type of MDR-TB. The random-effects model was used to obtain the pooled odds ratio of the crude association between HIV infection and MDR-TB with a 95% confidence interval. We investigated the potential publication bias by checking funnel plot asymmetry and using the Egger’s test. Moreover, we assessed the heterogeneity using Cochran’s Q test and the I2 statistic. Findings: We identified 1496 studies through a database search, and after subsequent elimination based on our eligibility criteria, we selected 47 articles, including 60,754 participants. The pooled odds ratio was 1.47 (95% CI= 1.19-1.81) with substantial heterogeneity (I2=80.49%), and there was no evidence of publication bias (p=0.13). Subgroup analysis revealed that the estimated pooled odds ratio for European countries (OR=2.31, 95% CI= 1.80-2.96, I2=32.26%) was higher than the other three continents (South American, Asia, and Africa). Further analysis showed that the effect estimate was higher for primary MDR-TB (OR=3.13, 95% CI= 1.59-6.13, I2=13.13%) with no heterogeneity among the studies. There was also a trend towards increased risk of MDR-TB for HIV patients of 40 years and older (OR=1.96, 95% CI= 1.41-2.73, I2=69.11%) and women HIV patients (OR=1.97, 95% CI 1.03-3.78, I2=80.35%). The MDR-TB is found to be significant in high burden of TB/HIV countries (OR=1.51, 95% CI= 1.18-1.92, I2=78.1%) and in high-income countries (OR=2.64, 95% CI= 2.01-3.48, I2=15.01%). Interpretation:The risk of MDR-TB increases significantly among HIV infected individuals from the last decade. The most considerable burden of MDR-TB in HIV individuals was found in Europe and the women HIV patients with age 40 years and older are most in the risk of MDR-TB. Funding Statement: The authors stated: There was a student seed fund for this study. The corresponding author had full access to all study data and the authorized person for the final submission of the paper for publication. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: The protocol was registered with PROSPERO-CRD42019132752.

THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN GENETIC POLYMORPHISMS OF TOLL-LIKE RECEPTORS AND MANNOSE-BINDING LECTIN AND ACTIVE TUBERCULOSIS IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS

Objectives: to analyze the association between genetic polymorphisms of Toll-like receptors (TLR) and mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and active tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients to consider the possibility of using genetic markers as a way to personalize the chemoprophylaxis of tuberculosis in this category of patients. Materials and methods : The study enrolled 171 patients (85 HIV-infected, 86 HIV/TB co-infected patients). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the TLR4 (rs4986790), TLR2 (rs5743708) and MBL2 (rs5030737, rs1800450, rs1800451) were genotyped by real-time PCR and pyrosequencing. Data about epidemiological risk factors were obtained from epidemiological anamnesis. Immune status was assessed by the level of CD4+ T-cells count. Results : Statistically significant association with active tuberculosis was identified for the genotype AG of TLR4, rs4986790 (OR=5.2; 95% CI: 1,8–14,6, p=0,002). Multivariate analysis shows that close contact with TB patientand status of ex-prisoner increased the risk of active tuberculosis 5,2 times (OR=5,2; 95% CI: 1,4–18,5, p=0,012 and OR=5,2; 95% CI: 1,5–17,7, p=0,009, respectively); CD4+ T-cell count more than 200 cells/mm 3 exerted protective effect and reduced the risk of developing TB 5 times (OR=0,2; 95% CI: 0,1–0,5, p=0,001). The genotype AG of TLR4, rs4986790 increased the risk of active tuberculosis 3,7 times (OR=3,7; 95% CI: 1,1–13,1, p=0,046). Conclusion . The G allele of TLR4, rs4986790 can be considered as an independent risk factor for active tuberculosis in HIV-infected individuals. These results need to be confirmed by further investigations on large samples.

Incidence of Tuberculosis as a Opportunistic Infection in Patients with HIV Getting Combined Anti Retroviral Therapy

Introduction: The risk of active Tuberculosis increases after HIV seroconversion. It progressively increases with declining immunity. Tuberculosis (TB) epidemics in HIV has led to a dramatic upsurge in global TB incidence, resulting in remarkable increase in morbidity and mortality. Many clinical studies had shown that TB is one of the commonest opportunistic infection. This study is conducted to see the incidence of tuberculosis as an opportunistic infection in patients with HIV getting combined antiretroviral therapy (cART)&#x0D; Materials and Methods: This was a hospital based cross-sectional comparative study. Five hundred patients with HIV who are getting cART were enrolled in the study.&#x0D; Results: Analysis of individuals with HIV in our study amongst the 500 patients 266 (53.2%) were males and the remaining 234 (46.68%) were females. Amongst these HIV patients 48(18.04%) males and 17(7.26%) females had tuberculosis. 65(13%) of patients were TB/HIV co-infected. 2(4.1%) of these male TB/HIV patients had cervical gland TB.&#x0D; Conclusion: The incidence of tuberculosis in HIV infected individuals is high. TB is the commonest opportunistic infection (OIs) in people living with HIV/AIDS. Males are predominant gender to have TB/HIV co-infection.

Risk factors for active tuberculosis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals

Context: Tuberculosis (TB) has become the most common opportunistic infection among individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection worldwide and continues to be a major killer resulting in 0.4 million deaths every year. While some of the risk factors for developing TB in HIV-infected individuals are known, identifying other risk factors will help in screening strategies to pick out those at higher risk for closer follow-up. Aims: The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors related to the development of active TB in HIV-infected individuals. Settings and Design: This case–control study among the HIV-infected individuals was carried out at a HIV clinic in a large tertiary care hospital in South India. Methods: HIV-infected individuals >18 years of age with confirmed TB were chosen as cases. For each case, two age- and sex-matched controls, diagnosed to have HIV infection without active TB or history of TB, were included. The potential risk factors for the development of active TB were evaluated using the odds ratios (ORs) and logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 150 patients, 50 cases (mean age: 39.3 ± 7.2 years) and 100 controls (mean age: 40.2 ± 7.1 years) were included. On univariate analysis, smoking (OR 8.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.13–21.21; P

A systematic review of published literature describing factors associated with tuberculosis recurrence in people living with HIV in Africa

A summary of factors associated with recurrent tuberculosis (TB) in the African HIV-infected population is lacking. We performed a systematic review to address this. We performed a literature search within PubMed and The WHO Global Library with specific inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify manuscripts emanating from the African continent which potentially described factors associated with recurrent TB in persons living with HIV. The literature search yielded 52 unique manuscripts, of which only 4 manuscripts were included in the final systematic review following application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Baseline CD4 count, baseline HIV viral load, a positive tuberculin skin test, prior active TB disease, cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction to treatment, having < 3 lung zones affected by prior TB disease, and anaemia were associated with recurrent TB in HIV-infected individuals, whilst age and antiretroviral status were not. The lack of studies describing recurrent TB in Africa which stratify results by HIV-status is a hindrance to understanding risk factors for recurrent TB in this population. This might be overcome by implementing guidelines related to the publishing of data from observational studies in peer-reviewed medical journals reporting recurrent TB in populations with a high-burden of HIV infection.

Asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals on antiretroviral therapy exhibit impaired lung CD4(+) T-cell responses to mycobacteria.

HIV-infected persons on antiretroviral therapy (ART) remain at higher risk of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) than HIV-uninfected individuals. This increased susceptibility may be caused by impairment of alveolar macrophage (AM) function and/or mycobacteria-specific alveolar CD4(+) T-cell responses observed in HIV-infected ART-naive adults. To determine whether ART was associated with improvement in both AM function, assessed by phagosomal proteolysis, and alveolar CD4(+) T-cell responses to Mycobacterium in HIV-infected individuals. Peripheral blood was drawn and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) performed on healthy, 35 HIV-uninfected, 25 HIV-infected ART-naive, and 50 HIV-infected ART-treated asymptomatic adults. Phagosomal proteolysis of AM was assessed with fluorogenic beads. Mycobacteria-specific CD4(+) T-cell responses were measured by intracellular cytokine staining. HIV-infected adults on ART exhibited lower plasma HIV viral load and higher blood CD4(+) T-cell count than ART-naive adults. AM proteolysis and total mycobacteria-specific Th1 CD4(+) T-cell responses in individuals on ART for greater than or equal to 4 years were similar to HIV-uninfected control subjects but those on ART for less than 4 years had impaired responses. Total influenza-specific alveolar Th1 CD4(+) T-cell responses were intact in all individuals receiving ART. In contrast, BAL and blood mycobacteria-specific polyfunctional CD4(+) T-cell responses were impaired in adults on ART irrespective of duration. AM and mycobacteria-specific alveolar CD4(+) T-cell responses in HIV-infected adults on ART for less than 4 years are impaired and may partly explain the high risk of TB in HIV-infected individuals on ART. Strategies to augment ART to improve lung immune cell function and reduce the high incidence of TB in HIV-infected adults who initiate ART should be investigated.

Screening for pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV-infected individuals: AIDS Clinical Trials Group Protocol A5253

Improved tuberculosis (TB) screening is urgently needed for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients. An observational, multi-country, cross-sectional study of HIV-infected patients to compare a standardized diagnostic evaluation (SDE) for TB with standard of care (SOC). SOC evaluations included TB symptom review (current cough, fever, night sweats and/or weight loss), sputum Ziehl-Neelsen staining and chest radiography. SDE screening added extended clinical signs and symptoms and fluorescent microscopy (FM). All participants underwent all evaluations. Mycobacterium tuberculosis on sputum culture was the primary outcome. A total of 801 participants were enrolled from Botswana, Malawi, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Peru and Brazil. The median age was 33 years; 37% were male, and median CD4 count was 275 cells/mm(3). Thirty-one participants (4%) had a positive culture on Löwenstein-Jensen media and 54 (8%) on MGIT. All but one positive culture came from sub-Saharan Africa, where the prevalence of TB was 54/445 (12%). SOC screening had 54% sensitivity (95%CI 40-67) and 76% specificity (95%CI 72-80). Positive and negative predictive values were respectively 24% and 92%. No elements of the SDE improved the predictive values of SOC. Symptom-based screening with smear microscopy was insufficiently sensitive. More sensitive diagnostic testing is required for HIV-infected patients.

The Twin Epidemics of Tuberculosis and HIV

The deadly combination of tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) currently ravaging the world, taking a toll of about 0.35 million people every year, is one of the major public health crises of the decade. Throughout the course of HIV infection, the risk of acquisition, reactivation, and reinfection of TB keeps increasing substantially as the immune deficiency progresses. TB coinfected patients inadvertently facilitate HIV infection by release of the proinflammatory cytokines and overexpression of coreceptors CXCR4 and CCR5; thereby, the progression of each is facilitated. The difficulties in diagnosing active tuberculosis in HIV-infected individuals poses a great challenge that is further complicated by the challenges in identification of latent TB infection, creating a setback to preventive therapy. Furthermore, prescribing antituberculous therapy and antiretroviral therapy together poses several management challenges, including drug interactions, added toxicities, and TB immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. The current approach to diagnosis, prevention, and treatment strategies in TB and HIV coinfected individuals, along with epidemiology and overview of pathogenetic interplay of both microbes, is reviewed here.

Extensively drug resistant tuberculosis in a HIV-infected patient in a UK hospital

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of mortality in the HIV-infected population, with growing concern about increasing incidence in extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB worldwide. We describe the first published case of XDR TB and HIV co-infection in the UK. The case describes a patient newly diagnosed with smear-positive pulmonary TB and HIV. The isolate was found to be XDR TB, requiring use of third-line TB drugs alongside antiretroviral medication, causing multiple complications due to drug toxicity and interactions. After culture conversion was achieved directly observed treatment with close community support was organized for the patient. Despite these arrangements the patient required readmission for new-onset headaches after poor adherence to treatment. Investigations confirmed lymphocytic meningitis. The patient eventually deteriorated and died from acute cerebral infarction. This case highlights the complexity of managing drug-resistant TB in HIV-infected individuals, due to difficult adherence, drug toxicity and potential public health risks.

Tuberculosis prevention in HIV-infected pregnant women in South Africa

The high burden of HIV and tuberculosis (TB) among pregnant women in South Africa contributes to a high maternal mortality rate. Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) is recommended for the prevention of active TB in HIV-infected individuals, including pregnant women. However, there are few data regarding IPT use in the latter, with concern regarding the concurrent use of IPT with nevirapine in pregnancy, as both treatments are hepatotoxic. The benefit and safety of IPT in HIV-infected pregnant women has not been established. We recommend a simplification of HIV and TB interventions by providing triple antiretroviral therapy to all HIV-infected pregnant women.

Tuberculosis prevention in HIV-infected pregnant women in South Africa

The high burden of HIV and tuberculosis (TB) among pregnant women in South Africa contributes to a high maternal mortality rate. Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) is recommended for the prevention of active TB in HIV-infected individuals, including pregnant women. However, there are few data regarding IPT use in the latter, with concern regarding the concurrent use of IPT with nevirapine in pregnancy, as both treatments are hepatotoxic. The benefit and safety of IPT in HIV-infected pregnant women has not been established. We recommend a simplification of HIV and TB interventions by providing triple antiretroviral therapy to all HIV-infected pregnant women.

Vitamin D Status in HIV-Infected Patients With and Without Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of death in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals. Efforts to reduce the burden of TB include isoniazid prophylactic therapy (IPT) for latent TB infection (LTBI).1 However, IPT confers a risk of hepatotoxicity and requires at least six months of therapy.2 Therefore, additional strategies to reduce the burden of active TB are needed. Vitamin D supplementation may decrease the progression of LTBI to active TB. Primarily, in vitro studies demonstrate that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25[OH]2D) enhances macrophage function, thereby augmenting immunologic control of mycobacteria.3 The benefit of vitamin D supplementation is suggested by the observation of increased rates of clearance of TB from sputum in HIV-uninfected individuals.4 Vitamin D, however, may have detrimental effects in HIV-infected patients. In vitro, vitamin D depresses cell mediated immune function, 5 which could hasten progression of LTBI to active disease. This may limit vitamin D supplementation as an adjunct for TB control. Given vitamin D’s conflicting mechanisms of action on the immune system, we conducted a study in Botswana, an area of high TB and HIV prevalence,6 to determine if there was evidence for differences in 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels in HIV-infected individuals with and without active TB. We hypothesized that 25-OHD levels would be significantly lower in HIV-infected individuals with active TB as compared to those without active TB.