Prevalence of Streptococcus Pneumoniae and Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Co-Infection among HIV Infected Adult Patients on HAART in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a serious threat and a major public health problem in tropical countries like Nigeria. Among other concerns, HIV infection causes alteration in several lines of host defenses in the respiratory tract that contribute to an increased risk for pulmonary infection and its attending complications. These alterations include abnormalities in mucociliary function and soluble defense molecules, such as defensins within respiratory secretions. Within the lung parenchyma, innate and adaptive immune responses to pathogens may be impaired. For example, alveolar macrophages from HIV-infected individuals have been shown to be deficient in pathogen recognition. Besides, HIV also results in chronic stimulation and activation of inflammatory cells within the alveolar space. Progressive attack and elimination of the alveolar macrophages and CD4 cells in particular, by the virus makes respiratory tract infection common among HIV positive patients and a wide array of opportunistic pathogens (bacteria, fungi, parasites and other viruses inclusive), armed with different virulent factors have been found to co-exist.