prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in patients infected with HIV by microscopical and molecular methods

Background:In some countries, one of the first and most common manifestations of HIV positive patients is tuberculosis (TB). HIV positive people are prone to other infections such as tuberculosis due to immune deficiency and reduced CD4+ cell count. Although increasing access to antiretroviral therapy has led to a reduction in HIV-related opportunistic infections and mortality, the simultaneous management of HIV/TB co-infection remains a challenge due to side effects, complex drug interactions, and overlapping toxicities. Material and Methods: This randomized study was conducted on the records of 100 patients with HIV who had been on antiretroviral therapy for more than 6 months. First, three sputum samples were taken from the patients and to staining and microscopic examination, then their blood samples were tested for CD4+ and viral load by real-time PCR molecular method. Results:The prevalence rate of tuberculosis infection in HIV positive patients was reported as 2%. The gender of both patients with HIV/TB was female, and the average age of both was 47 years old, they did not have jobs, their marital status was separated from their spouses, and their educations were under diploma. CD4 level and viral load in both patients have opposite relationship and it is significant(p<0/01). Conclusion:Tuberculosis is the most common opportunistic infection in HIV infected patients. With the lack of a vaccine for HIV and the lack of an effective vaccine for TB, it is necessary to design strategies to deal with HIV-TB co-infection.