Prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Co-infection among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV/AIDS)

Abstract

Background: HIV, HBV and HCV are still major public health concerns. Infections with these viruses rank among ten leading causes of death attributable to infectious diseases. The variability in the prevalence of HIV/hepatitis coinfection worldwide is multifactorial, and depends on geographic regions, infections’ risk factors and type of exposure. Objective: To investigate HBV and HCV prevalence in HIV patients. Patients and Methods: This study was conducted on HIV infected, and AIDS patients attending Alexandria Fever Hospital during the period from August 2018 to July 2019, assuming prevalence of HCV in HIV patients is 15% sample was calculated to be 141 patients using epi info version 7 program with test power 80%, CI 95%. Results: The incidence of infection with hepatitis C virus was 45 patients (31.9%), all the 45 tested positive for PCR for HCV RNA as HIV accelerated progression of the disease making it almost impossible for HCV spontaneous clearance. This percentage is much higher than that of ordinary people, and the incidence of hepatitis B infection is 9 patients (6.4%). The Prevalence of co-infection between hepatitis C virus and HBV among immunodeficiency patients was 2.8%, with the combined infection among the three viruses in only 4 patients out of 141 patients. Conclusion: the results of the present work underline the importance of continued screening of HIV positive for HBV as well as HCV markers before initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) as this practice would guide correct choice of drug combination.