SOUMENDRA NATH MAITY, R.VIJAYARAGHAVAN, NAGABABU PYADALA, PRUDHVI CHAND MALLEPADDI , VASUMATHI POLAVARAPU, KUMAR SAI SAILESH AND RATHNAGIRI POLAVARAPU
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to observe the prevalence of opportunistic infections like bacterial, fungal, parasitic infections in HIV reactive patients. 70 male (n=47) and female (n=23) HIV sero-positive patients were selected for the study. Case records of HIV infected patients were accessed from Medical records department and samples were collected depending on patient symptoms and clinical presentation under universal aseptic precautions in suitable sterile containers for the routine diagnosis. In the present study majority of patients (90%) were in age group 21-40 years. The heterosexual mode of transmission was the commonest mode of transmission, accounting for 94.28%. 2.85% of the cases accounted for the transmission due to transfusion of blood and blood products and 2.85% of cases were IV drug abuse, or needle stick transmission. In the present study we have not observed any case with parent to child transmission and homosexuals. Fever, weight loss, cough, oral lesions and diarrhoea were most common symptoms. All total 79 microorganisms were isolated from 45 patients. In the present study, Candida albicans (32.9%) was the most commonly isolated pathogen, followed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (24.05%), Cryptosporidium parvum (17.7%). 24 patients were infected with more than single pathogen. OIs are very common in HIV patients. As immunity decreases, OIs can increase. Candidiasis was the common OIs followed by Tuberculosis, Cryptosporidium parvum. Only diagnosis of OIs may not decrease the mortality in HIV patients, but also increase the quality of life. However, the present study, if substantiated through further research, with large sample size and through follow-ups of patients, may potentially has much wider implications. This knowledge may allow the reduction of the overall mortality rate in HIV/AIDS.