First Outcome of MDR-TB among Co-Infected HIV/TB Patients from South-West Iran / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of mortality among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients and the majority of them occur in developing countries. The aims of the present study were to determine the frequency of HIV/TB co-infection and other probable associated factors. METHODS: This 10 year retrospective study was conducted on 824 HIV patients in the south-west of Iran. HIV infection was diagnosed by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and confirmed by Western blot. TB diagnosis was based on consistency of the clinical manifestations, chest X-ray, and microscopic examination. Drug susceptibility testing was done by the proportional method on Lowenstein-Jensen media. RESULTS: Of 824 HIV patients, 59 (7.2%) were identified as TB co-infected and the majority (86.4%) of them were male. Of the overall TB infected patients, 6 cases (10.2%) showed multidrug-resistant with the mean CD4+ lymphocyte count of 163+/-166 cells/mm3. The main clinical forms of TB were pulmonary (73%). There was a significant (p<0.05) correlation between TB infection and CD4+ lymphocyte counts < or =200 cells/mm3, gender, prison history, addiction history, and highly active anti-retroviral therapy. CONCLUSION: We reported novel information on frequency of HIV/TB co-infection and multidrug resistant-TB outcome among co-infected patients that could facilitate better management of such infections on a global scale.

[Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection and related risk factors among injective substance abusers in Shiraz, Southern part of Iran]

As substance abusers are prone for human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection, this study was established to estimate the prevalence of HIV infection and related risk factors among injective substance abusers in Shiraz. In this cross sectional descriptive study, we studied 360 male intravenous substance abusers in a random "time location sampling" method all around Shiraz. During September to December 2008, participants were asked by standard structured questionnaire of behavioral study. We obtained three blood spots from their fingers to evaluate HIV infection. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistical methods such as mean, variance, tables and schemas. The mean age of participants were 33 +/- 7.26 years [range 19-64]. The average age of initial substance use and first intravenous substance use were 18.6 +/- 1.63 and 25 +/- 6.32 years. 30.2% of the participants were homeless and the most prevalent method of abuse was injection. The most abused illicit drug in the last month was Tamgizak [41.1%]. During last month, 15% had used contaminated syringes and 15.6% had used shared syringes; 62.8% of participant had sex with permanent partners such as wife, 36.3% had sex to earn money or drugs, 54% had sex with other partners [not for money or drugs] and 49.4% were homosexual. During last year, prevalence of unprotected sexual intercourse without condom in four mentioned sexual patterns were 49.7%, 31.7%, 43.3%, 75.6% respectively. In addition, 24.7% [89 cases] were infected with HIV. The prevalence of HIV[+] cases and high risk behaviors among intravenous drug abusers are high