HIV co-infection in patients followed up for tuberculosis in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Ibn Rochd University Hospital in Casablanca

Abstract

This study aims to determine the prevalence of HIV infection among patients hospitalized for tuberculosis in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Ibn Rochd University Hospital in Casablanca and factors associated with TB-HIV co-infection. We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective study in November 2016. The database of the Division of Infectious Diseases, Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology at the Ibn Rochd University Hospital was examined. All the patients with tuberculosis confirmed using Lowenstein Jensen culture medium and HIV Infection confirmed using Western Blot test between January 2013 and December 2015 were included. During the study period, 117 cases of tuberculosis were confirmed by culture. Fourty six (39.3%) patients had confirmed HIV infection. Thirty-four co-infected patients (73.9%) had extrapulmonary tuberculosis (this form was associated with co-infection (p=0.04)). All patients underwent TB treatment and anti-retroviral treatment according to the indication. The Evolution was favorable in 32 patients (69.6%) and 10 deaths were recorded (21.7%). Mortality rate was higher in co-infected patients than in TB patients without HIV (8.4%), (p=0.04). This study highlights a relatively high prevalence of HIV infection among tuberculosis patients. TB-HIV co-infection is associated with severe forms of tuberculosis and with an increase in mortality rate among TB patients; hence the importance of strengthening anti-co-infection joint activities.