scholarly journals Scenario of mycobacterial and fungal infection in HIV seropositive patients and their co-relation with CD4 count in Western Uttar Pradesh

Author(s):  
Richa Pandey ◽  
Amit Singh ◽  
Dharmendra Prasad Singh ◽  
Rajesh Kumar Verma ◽  
Manoj Kumar ◽  
...  

Background: HIV infection is defined by sero-conversion and the detection of HIV-specific antibodies. Emergence and pandemic spread of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is due to the exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A decrease in CD4 count is at least partially responsible for the profound immunodeficiency that leads to various OIs in HIV- infected persons. When the CD4 count falls below 200cells/µL, there is irreversible breakdown of immune defence mechanism and patient become prey to a variety of human opportunistic pathogens.HIV positive patients must receive infections screening and access medical care before onset of advanced immunosuppression.Methods: In this study, total 230 HIV positive patients were selected during 18 months of study period. CD4 counts were estimated of all HIV positive cases. Positive HIV patients were investigated further to detect mycobacterial and fungal opportunistic infections. They were subjected to routine microscopy such as KOH mount, India ink, Gram’s staining for suspected fungal infection and ZN staining method for suspected mycobacterial infection. For fungal infection, samples were inoculated in two Sabouraud Dextrose Agar followed by different biochemical test and LPCB mount; for mycobacterial infection, samples were cultured on LJ medium followed by biochemical test.Results: In our study, maximum patients presented with complain of fever (90.43%), weight loss (73.91%) followed by loss of appetite (35.65%), breathlessness (33.91%), coughing (28.69%) and chest pain (22.17%). Overall prevalence of OIs (Mycobacterium and fungal) was 93 (40.43%) among 230 HIV positive patients. Among OIs 63(27.39%) patients were detected as having Mycobacterial infection and 41(17.82%) as had opportunistic fungal infections. Maximum OIs were related to patients with CD4 count 0-200 cells/µL followed by 201-400 Cells/µL. Most common OIs, among mycobacterial and opportunistic fungal infection were M. tuberculosis (50 isolates) and Candida spp. (26 isolates) respectively.Conclusions: This study provides important information about the risks of OIs at lower CD4 counts among HIV positive patients. These results highlight the need for early screening of HIV infected patients for opportunistic infections. There is also need to increase awareness in healthcare providers in order to improve decisions regarding prophylaxis for prevention of OIs and appropriate therapeutic intervention.

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (01) ◽  
pp. 060-069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nermin Kamal Saeed ◽  
Eman Farid ◽  
Afaf E Jamsheer

Introduction: This study aimed to examine the prevalence of opportunistic infections in HIV-infected patients in Bahrain and its relation to absolute CD4 count, CD4%, and CD4/CD8 ratio. Methodology: This retrospective cohort study used laboratory records (January 2009 - May 2013) from a major hospital in Bahrain. Opportunistic infections (OIs); absolute CD4 counts, CD4%, and CD4/CD8 ratio were recorded. Results: CD4% and absolute CD4 count in HIV patients with associated infections (157 ± 295) was significantly lower than in those without associated infections (471 ± 285) (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in CD4/CD8 ratio between the two groups. Infection with Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest infection, present in 9.8% of total HIV-infected patients and 28.7% of members of the AIDS patient group with OIs, followed by yeast infections (9.2% and 27.2%, respectively). Mycobacterium tuberculosis was present in 3.6% of total HIV-infected patients and 10.6% of the group with OIs, while mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (MOTT) was present in 2.5% and 7.5%, respectively. Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) was observed in 5.1% and 15.1%, respectively. Herpes simplex II (HSV-II) was observed in 3% and 9%, respectively, while Cytomegalovirus antigenemia was only present in 2% and 6%, respectively. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus milleri, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Citrobacter species were bacterial infections observed least frequently. Conclusions: Studying the pattern of OIs in HIV-infected patients in Bahrain is of paramount importance due to the scarcity of data in the Arab world. This will help to improve physicians’ awareness to improve care of HIV-infected patients.


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 14-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Raman Thulasi ◽  
D Manimaran ◽  
G Hemanathan ◽  
Tameem Afroz ◽  
Radha Sagar

Background: HIV is pandemic and remains as a public health concern for many decades. This infection though associated with many opportunistic infections and neoplasms, it is further complicated with marked hematological abnormalities. The aim of this study is to determine the magnitude & severity of hematological abnormalities in HIV infected individuals and also to analyze these abnormalities in correlation with the CD4 counts. We also compared these hematological abnormalities in patients on ART and those not on ART.Materials and Methods: The study was conducted for a period of one year, on 120 HIV positive cases including both patients on ART & not on ART. Controls with similar age and sex distribution was set up. The blood samples were collected and processed in an automated cell counter. The parameters were tabulated and analyzed with respect to CD4 count & ART status.Results: Among the total of 120 HIV cases, 77% had anemia, 21% had leucopenia and 5% had thrombocytopenia. The magnitude and severity of anemia, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia and other parameters was found to be more in patients not on ART, when compared to patients on ART. Similarly, the magnitude and severity of most of hematological abnormalities were inversely proportional to the CD4 count in non-ART cases but not with cases on ART.Conclusion: The basic hematological parameters can be used as a prospective screening test to assess the severity and progression of HIV infection when CD4 count is not available. These parameters can also be used to assess the response to anti-retroviral treatment. Therefore, these basic hematological investigations readily available at all medical centers are of great use while treating HIV infected patients.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.7(4) 2016 14-18 


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 1485
Author(s):  
Vishal Manohar Jadhav ◽  
Yashwant Raghu Gabhale ◽  
Mamatha Murad Lala ◽  
Nikita Dilip Shah ◽  
Mamta Vijay Manglani

Background: To determine the clinical spectrum and prevalence of opportunistic infections (OIs) in HIV infected children and correlate the occurrence of opportunistic infections with their CD4 count and Anti-retroviral treatment (ART).Methods: A total of 100 HIV infected children diagnosed with opportunistic infections were included in the study. Demographic details, clinical examination and relevant investigations were done for all the children. Clinical spectrum of OIs and HIV staging was recorded. CD4 counts were done at baseline and were repeated at 6 monthly intervals.Results: Mean age of the patients was 7.08±3.48 years (ranging from 6 months to 15 years) at enrollment with male to female ratio of 1.2:1. Fever (91%) was a common presenting symptom followed by weight loss (74%), cough (37%), abdominal pain (29%) and breathlessness (16%). CD4 count was significantly associated with presence of opportunistic infection in the study group. Tuberculosis - pulmonary (32%) and extra-pulmonary (29%) was the most common oppurtunistic infections, followed by oral thrush (13%), Herpes zoster (10%), Molluscum Contagiosum (9%), Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (3%), Parvovirus infection (3%) and Pruritic Papular Eruptions (2%). 70% children were on ART as per clinical and immunological staging of HIV.Conclusions: Low CD4 count is significantly associated with severe opportunistic infections, therefore drop in CD4 count should serve as an alarming signal for the treating physician. High index of suspicion is required to detect opportunistic infections and therefore CD4 counts should be done more frequently to predict occurrence of OIs. 


2009 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
B O-E Igbinedion ◽  
T T Marchie ◽  
E Ogbeide

Objective: The objective of this study is to document the abdominal ultrasound findings in HIV infected patients and compare it with their CD4+ count. Patients and method: 300 confirmed HIV positive patients had abdominal ultrasonography done at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital from November 2007 to January 2008. Each patient’s sonographic findings were correlated with their CD4+ category using the WHO’s HIV classification index. Result: Splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, renomegaly, hyperechoic splenic parenchyma, increased renal echogenicity and lymphadenopathy are among the common sonographic findings. However, few of these findings correlated statistically with the CD4+ count. Conclusion: The versatile diagnostic tool, ultrasound, should continue to be an important imaging equipment in several impoverished communities. In the evaluation of HIV infected patients, its use is invaluable and should be promoted.


2015 ◽  
Vol 87 (2 suppl) ◽  
pp. 1349-1359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Athayde Neves-Junior ◽  
Ana Carolina Cartágenes-Pinto ◽  
Débora A.S. Rocha ◽  
Leandro F. Reis de Sá ◽  
Maria de Lourdes Junqueira ◽  
...  

Candidiasis has become an important concern for clinical practice, especially with the increasing incidence of immunocompromised patients. In this scenario, the development resistance to fluconazole presents a challenge for treating these opportunistic infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate some epidemiology features of Candidainfections in a Brazilian University Hospital using data, previously unavailable. We observed that 44% of the 93 clinical isolates tested, belonged to Candida albicansspecies and 56% belonged to non-Candida albicansspecies (mainly Candida tropicalis and Candida glabrata). Most strains were isolated from urine samples where C. albicans was predominantly detected. 29 strains presented a fluconazole resistance phenotype and of these, 22 were chemosensitised by FK506, a classical inhibitor of ABC transporters related to azoles resistance. These data suggest the probable role of efflux pumps in this resistance phenotype. Our study highlights the need for developing effective control measures for fungal infections, rational use of antifungal drugs and development of new molecules able to abrogate the active transport of antifungals.


2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (08) ◽  
pp. 777-784 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Abuga Guto ◽  
Christine C Bii ◽  
David W Denning

Introduction: Kenya is a developing country with a high rate of tuberculosis (TB) and a moderate HIV infection burden. No estimate of the burden of fungal diseases in Kenya is published. Methodology: We used specific populations at risk and fungal infection frequencies from the literature to estimate national incidence or prevalence of serious fungal infections. Used sources were: 2010 WHO TB statistics, Kenya Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Epidemic Update 2012, Kenya Facts and figures 2012, Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2008-2009. Results: Of Kenya’s population of ~40 million, 43% are under 15 years old and approximately 594,660 Kenyan women get >4 episodes Candida vulvovaginitis annually (2,988/100,000). The HIV/AIDS population at risk of opportunistic infections (OI) is 480,000 and the OI estimates include 306,000 patients with oral thrush (768/100,000), 114,000 with oesophageal candidiasis (286/100,000), 11,900 with cryptococcal meningitis (29/100,000) and 17,000 patients with Pneumocystis pneumonia (42/100,000). Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis following TB has a prevalence of 10,848 cases (32/100,000). The adult asthma prevalence is 3.1% and assuming 2.5% have allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis then 17,696 (44/100,000) are affected.  Invasive aspergillosis, candidaemia and Candida peritonitis are probably uncommon. Tinea capitis infects 9.6% of children in Kenya, while fungal keratitis and otomycoses are difficult to estimate. Conclusion: At any one time, about 7% of the Kenyan population suffers from a significant fungal infection, with recurrent vaginitis and tinea capitis accounting for 82% of the infections. These estimates require further epidemiological studies for validation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (03) ◽  
pp. 471-482
Author(s):  
Cassie C. Kennedy ◽  
Kelly M. Pennington ◽  
Elena Beam ◽  
Raymund R. Razonable

AbstractInvasive fungal infections threaten lung transplant outcomes with high associated morbidity and mortality. Pharmacologic prophylaxis may be key to prevent posttransplant invasive fungal infections, but cost, adverse effects, and absorption issues are barriers to effective prophylaxis. Trends in fungal infection diagnostic strategies utilize molecular diagnostic methodologies to complement traditional histopathology and culture techniques. While lung transplant recipients are susceptible to a variety of fungal pathogens, Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. infections remain the most common. With emerging resistant organisms and multiple novel antifungal agents in the research pipeline, it is likely that treatment strategies will continue to evolve.


2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 5544-5544
Author(s):  
M. M. Leitao ◽  
P. White ◽  
B. M. Cracchiolo

5544 Background: The objective of this study was to compare the HIV viral load (VL), and CD4 counts (CD4) in patients infected with HIV with and without cervical cancer. We hypothesize that HIV positive women with inadequate HIV control, as reflected by the degree of immune suppression, will be at the highest risk of developing cervical cancer. Methods: We performed a case-control study of all patients seen at University Hospital from 1/1/95 - 4/30/06. All patients were HIV positive and were identified using an institutional electronic patient database and University Hospital Cancer Registry using ICD-9 codes. Cases were patients diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer and controls were patients without invasive cervical cancer. Patients were used as a control if there was documentation of a normal gynecologic exam without clinical or histopathologic evidence of cervical cancer. CD4 counts and viral loads were then abstracted from the electronic medical chart. Patients were kept as cases or controls if they had a CD4 count <6 months before or <1 month after the diagnosis of invasive cervical cancer (cases) or from the last gynecologic exam (controls). Controls were matched to cases on a 4:1 ratio according to current smoking history. Patients were considered immunocompetent if they had both CD4 counts >200 and VL <10,000. SPSS version 12.0 statistical software was used to analyze our data. Results: A total of 15 cases and 60 controls were identified. The majority (67 [89%]) of patients were African-American. The median CD4 count for the cases was 208 (range 18 - 1102) compared to 445 (range 20 - 1201) for the controls (p=0.03). The median VL was 16,918 (range 50 - 214,915) for the cases compared to 1,430 (range 50 - 571,000) for the controls (p=0.15). Only one (7.1%) of 14 cases was immunocompetent compared to 35 (63.6%) of 55 controls (OR 0.04 [95% CI: 0, 0.37; p<0.001]). This significance was maintained after adjusting for current highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) use, number of years known to be HIV infected, and patient age (p=0.002). Conclusions: Patients with HIV who are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer appear to have a much greater degree of immunosuppression than women with HIV without invasive cervical cancer. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 1434-1434
Author(s):  
Meirav Kedmi ◽  
Sara Bar Cohen ◽  
Michelle Hauzi ◽  
Shlomo Maayan ◽  
Deborah Rund

Abstract Background: Some studies have suggested a relationship between different alleles of the multidrug resistance gene MDR1, and the course of HIV in treated or untreated patients (pts). It is controvertial whether polymorphisms alter the susceptibility to HIV infectivity. We therefore studied the C3435T polymorphism in MDR1, which may influence HIV. The normal allele has been associated with higher MDR1 activity than the polymorphic allele (Hitzl, 2001). We also studied the A to G polymorphism in the NFSE element of the promoter of the CYP3A4 gene, which metabolizes many important drugs. Methods: 96 pts, of either Ethiopian (57) or Caucasian (39) ethnicity, and 276 controls of these ethnic groups were studied using PCR based techniques. MDR1 activity was analyzed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 65 pts using rhodamine extrusion. CD4 counts, clinical course and opportunistic infections were recorded at the Hadassah Hospital AIDS Center where all pts are followed. Our pts are highly compliant with medical therapy and followup. Statistical significance was determined using the Cochrane-Armitage Trends test. Results: We found that the C allele of MDR1 C3435T was highly associated with being an HIV patient (p&lt;0.0001) as compared to controls. The reverse was true for the T allele. This association was found for all patients and also separately for each ethnic group. To analyze if this polymorphism affects the course of HIV, we compared CD4 counts in the patients of both ethnic groups according to genotypes. CD4 counts did not differ according to MDR1 C3435T genotype. Furthermore, C3435T genotypes did not affect the change in CD4 count over time in treated pts. CD4 counts rose following antiretroviral therapy in all pts. Twenty-eight of the pts were positive for HIV infection but were not yet treated. In untreated pts, the TT patients had more severe CD4 deficiency over time compared to CC pts. Our sample size is small, but this concurs with the findings of Lee who found that increased MDR1 activity correlated with decreased viral production (Lee, CG, FASEB J, 2000). Rhodamine extrusion did not vary according to MDR1 C3435T genotype. Opportunistic infections were rare and unaffected by genotype. For the CYP3A4 promoter polymorphism, we found a significantly increased probability of being infected with HIV (p&lt;0.0001) with the presence of the C allele, both in heterozygotes and in homozygotes. There were significantly fewer T alleles among the controls as compared to HIV pts. However when analyzed by ethnic group, this association was only found to be significant for Ethiopians and not for Caucasians (Ethiopians: p&lt; 0.0232 compared to p=0.44). There were no differences found in CD4 count, in treated or untreated patients, or in opportunistic infections according to CYP3A4 genotype. Conclusions: We conclude that for Israeli patients (Ethiopians and Caucasians), susceptibility to HIV infection may be altered according to MDR1 genotype. The C allele was highly associated with infection with HIV for both ethnic groups, as compared to normal controls. For Ethiopians, the CYP3A4 genotype may influence the predisposition to HIV infection (the C allele being associated with being a patient as compared to controls). However, the course of the disease and unsorted lymphocyte MDR1 activity were not influenced by the polymorphisms which we studied.


Chest Imaging ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 209-213
Author(s):  
Sonia L. Betancourt

Opportunistic fungal infections are caused by fungi that are nonpathogenic in the immunocompetent host, many of which are part of the normal upper respiratory tract flora. These organisms may cause pulmonary infection in immunocompromised hosts. Immunocompromised patients and patients with febrile neutropenia with opportunistic fungal infections may have normal chest radiographs. Thus, chest CT should be performed for further evaluation. Imaging abnormalities in this patient population should raise suspicion for opportunistic infection. Neutropenia is the single most important risk factor for Aspergillosis. Aspergillus is the most common opportunistic infection in patients with hematologic malignancy and bone marrow transplantation. Aspergillus spp., Candida spp., and Cryptococcus spp. are the most common fungal infections in patients with solid organ transplantation. Pneumocystis jirovecii is the most common fungal infection in patients AIDS with CD4 count s<200 cells/mm3. Cryptococcal pneumonia is also common in this population. There has been a recent increase in uncommon fungal pathogens causing invasive pulmonary disease.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document