Brucella infection in HIV infected patients

The purpose of this study was to assess the possible correlation between Brucella and HIV infections. Iran is a country where HIV infection is expanding and Brucellosis is prevalent. In the present study. 184 HIV infected patients were assigned and for all of them HIV infection was confirmed by western blot test. In order to identify the prevalence rate of Brucella infection and systemic brucellosis in these subjects, sera samples were obtained and Brucella specific serological tests were performed to reveal antibody titers. Detailed history was taken and physical examination was carried out for all of patients. 11 [6%] subjects had high titers but only 3 of them were symptomatic. Most of these subjects were injection drug user [IDU] men and one was a rural woman. Considering both prevalence rates of Brucella infection [3%] and symptomatic brucellosis [0.1%] in Iran, our HIV positive patients show higher rates of Brucella infection and systemic brucellosis. Preserved cellular immunity of participants and retention of granulocytes activity may explain this poor association; whereas other explanations such as immunological state difference and non-overlapping geographical distribution of the 2 pathogens have been mentioned by various authors

Tuberculin skin test conversion among students during their educational course in medical and pharmacy schools: a multiple cohort study

Mycobacterium tuberculosis can be transmitted via aerosols in hospital wards and affect medical students as well as other hospital personnel. This study aimed to assess the changes of tuberculin skin test in medical students compared to pharmacy students during their education. This was a natural multiple cohort study performed in the medical education system to assess the rates of TST conversion among students. Tuberculin skin tests were performed on 212 students, including100 pharmacy students and 112 medical students before the initiation of their clinical rotations and repeated 36 months later after their exposure to hospital wards. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires. Tuberculin skin test [TST] conversion in medical and pharmacy students was 18.1% and 4.3%, respectively during the years 2003 and 2006. Although there was no significant difference between positive TST of the two groups at baseline, a significant difference [P=0.005] was observed after their exposure to hospital wards. There were no significant correlations between TST conversion and age or gender of students. Exposure of medical students to tuberculosis during their education is substantial in Iran and more attention should be paid to prevention strategies in medical students prior to and during their clinical training