Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Among Tuberculosis Patients in Mumbai

BACKGROUND: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the most powerful risk factor for the progression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection to Tuberculosis (TB) disease. TB accelerates the progression of HIV infection to AIDS and shortens the survival of such patients. AIM: To determine the seroprevalence of HIV infection among TB confirmed patients in a tertiary care center in Mumbai in view of the significance of HIV in TB. Its association with gender and age was also determined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected by venipuncture from 432 TB patients and their HIV status was determined. HIV antibody detection was carried out as per Strategy III, National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) guidelines. Statistical analysis was carried out by applying the Chi-square test. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Of the 432 patients screened, 9% (39) were HIV positive. The prevalence of co-infection was higher among females (9.4%) than the male (8.7%) patients and highest amongst those aged 21to40 years (13.7%). Co-infection was found to be statistically highly associated with age (p < 0.05). This high prevalence calls for routine screening of TB patients for HIV infection.