Xpert MTB/RIF在人类免疫缺陷病毒感染/艾滋病患者中诊断结核病的价值

为探讨利福平耐药结核分枝杆菌实时荧光定量核酸扩增检测技术(Xpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis/rifampicin,Xpert MTB/RIF)在人类免疫缺陷病毒感染/艾滋病(human immunodeficiency virus infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome,HIV/AIDS)患者中诊断结核病的价值,本研究回顾性分析了2018年1月1日—2020年12月31日复旦大学附属公共卫生临床中心感染与免疫科收治的801例HIV/AIDS合并疑似结核病患者的临床资料。801例患者中,657例进行了Xpert MTB/RIF、外周血结核感染T细胞斑点试验(tuberculosis T cell spot test,T-SPOT.TB)、抗酸染色涂片镜检和BACTEC MGIT 960液体培养等检测。以液体培养及菌型鉴定结果作为结核病诊断的“金标准”,确诊结核病92例,Xpert MTB/RIF、T-SPOT.TB、抗酸染色涂片镜检在HIV/AIDS患者中诊断结核病(包括肺结核和肺外结核)的灵敏度分别为72.8%、55.4%和69.6%,特异度分别为96.8%、90.3%和84.4%,与“金标准”行一致性检验,Kappa值分别为0.719 (P<0.01)、0.430(P<0.01)和0.424(P<0.01)。Xpert MTB/RIF检测502份呼吸道样本,结果显示其诊断肺结核的灵敏度和特异度分别为66.7%和96.0%;在痰涂片阳性和阴性的患者中,Xpert MTB/RIF诊断肺结核的灵敏度分别为77.4%和35.2%,特异度分别为87.7%和 97.8%。采用Xpert MTB/RIF检测343份肺外标本,结果显示其诊断肺外结核的灵敏度和特异度分别为63.3%和95.2%。以上结果提示,Xpert MTB/RIF在HIV/AIDS患者中诊断结核病(包括肺结核和肺外结核)具有较高的灵敏度和特异度,诊断肺结核的灵敏度高于肺外结核,因此推荐将其作为HIV/AIDS患者疑似结核病的首选检测方法。     

Diagnosis of mycobacterial infection in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients and HIV carriers.

Differences in tuberculosis diagnosis between infected and non-infected HIV patients were described. In Barcelona, tuberculosis is present in 41.6% of 851 patients in whom AIDS was detected between 1981 and the first quarter of 1990. We reviewed the results of the methods used for tuberculosis diagnosis in 270 AIDS patients controlled in our hospital, in whom tuberculosis was detected (33.3%), and we compared these data with the results obtained in HIV carriers with tuberculosis and with tuberculous patients without HIV infection. Statistically significant differences were found between the three groups with respect to sex, age, results of Ziehl-Neelsen stain in pulmonary specimens and skin test reaction; between AIDS patients and the non-HIV infected population differences were observed in tuberculosis site. Positive skin test reaction diminished from tuberculous individuals non-HIV infected (95%), to HIV carriers with tuberculosis (71.8%) and AIDS patients with tuberculosis (21.8%). Acid-fast smears from pulmonary specimens were positive in 35.7%, 23.5% and 43.7% respectively. Statistically significant differences were found in tuberculosis localization between tuberculous patients non-HIV infected and tuberculous patients with AIDS, in the last group tuberculosis lymphadenitis was the most frequent localization (33.3%) of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, followed by abdominal tuberculosis (15.5%). The incidence of HIV infection among tuberculous patients was 4.6 in our study, but could be higher if patients between 19 and 30 years old were always checked for anti-HIV antibodies.     

Spectrum of tuberculosis in patients with HIV infection in British Columbia: report of 40 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical features, treatment and outcome of all known cases of tuberculosis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in British Columbia between 1984 and 1990. DESIGN: Retrospective case review. SETTING: Provincial tuberculosis registry and university-affiliated HIV clinic. PATIENTS: All people with HIV infection in whom active tuberculosis was diagnosed during the study period. RESULTS: All 40 patients identified were men; their mean age was 38 years. Of the subjects 30 (75%) were homosexual, 6 (15%) were homosexual and used intravenous drugs, 2 (5%) just used intravenous drugs, and 1 (2%) had had heterosexual contact with prostitutes; for the remaining subject the risk factor for HIV infection was not established. In all cases cultures of specimens from 15 body sources yielded Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Thirty-five of the patients had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and five had HIV infection uncomplicated except for tuberculosis. In 28 (70%) of the cases no AIDS-defining disease had previously been diagnosed, and in 23 (58%) extrapulmonary tuberculosis represented the AIDS-defining disease. Symptoms at presentation included weight loss (in 80% of the cases), fever (in 75%), cough (in 70%) and night sweats (in 55%). The mean CD4 lymphocyte count was 0.2 x 10(9)/L (in 15 cases). Tuberculin skin test results were positive in 8 of 16 cases. The most striking radiologic finding was intrathoracic adenopathy. All except one of the 36 patients who received appropriate treatment responded favourably at first. Adverse reactions necessitating changes in treatment occurred in 12 (33%) of the cases. Relapse occurred after completion of therapy in two cases (one at 3 weeks and the other at 9 months after treatment was stopped). Tuberculosis was the cause of death in five cases. CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculosis in people with HIV infection commonly presents as extrapulmonary disease and precedes or coincides with other AIDS-defining opportunistic infections. In most cases tuberculosis is the AIDS-defining disease. Even though radiologic findings are often unusual physicians should suspect tuberculosis. A careful examination for evidence of disease at multiple sites should be done. The duration and choice of therapy must be adequate to avoid relapse.     

Predictive value of the acid fast smear for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in respiratory specimens in a reference center of HIV/AIDS in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

In order to evaluate the predictive value of acid fast bacilii (AFB) smear for the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in respiratory specimens in a setting with a high prevalence of AIDS and an unknown prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), we retrospectively examined specimens cultured for mycobacteria between 1 September 1993 and 30 September 1994 and medical records of patients with positive culture in a General Hospital, AIDS reference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Seventy three per cent (1517/2077) of samples were respiratory specimens and mycobacteria were recovered from 20.6% (313/1517) of these. M. tuberculosis was identified in 94.2% (295/313) and NTM in 5.8% (18/313). The yield of positive AFB smear and of positive culture was 6.1% (93/1517) and 20.6% (313/1517), respectively. The positive predictive value (PPV) of AFB for M. tuberculosis was 98.4% in expectorated sputum and 96.4% in bronchoalveolar lavage. Forty four percent (130/295) of specimens with positive culture for M. tuberculosis and 66.7% (12/18) for NTM were from patients HIV positive. The conclusion was that in our study population, the PPV of AFB for M. tuberculosis in respiratory specimens was high and the prevalence of NTM was low despite the high prevalence of HIV positive.     

Diagnosis of clinically unsuspected extrapulmonary tuberculosis by fine needle aspiration: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTb) infection remains the cause of higher morbidity and mortality than any other infectious disease in the world. Intact cellular immunity is necessary to resist the disease, and therefore the AIDS epidemic has greatly contributed to the resurgence of MTb. Depending on the degree of immunosuppression, the presentation of MTb in patients with AIDS can be atypical and difficult to diagnose as compared to the classical presentation of MTb in the nonimmunocompromised population. CASE: A patient who was not known to be HIV positive had a clinical picture of extensive abdominal and pelvic lymphadenopathy without chest radiographic abnormalities. The diagnosis of MTb was made by fine needle aspiration (FNA) of a pelvic lymph node. CONCLUSION: Miliary tuberculosis associated with AIDS may have an unusual clinical presentation and unusual cytologic features on ENA.     

HIV/AIDS epidemic in Eastern Europe: Recent developments in the Russian Federation and Ukraine among women

Background: The Russian Federation and the Ukraine are among the Eastern European countries with the fastest growing number of cases of HIV. According to data from the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, nearly 90% of newly reported HIV diagnoses in Eastern Europe in 2006 were from the Russian Federation (66%) and the Ukraine (21%). A growing number of women are infected with HIV. The impact of gender on HIV/AIDS is an important factor in understanding the development and evolution of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Eastern Europe.Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the importance of integrating gender consideration into the creation of HIV programs and to examine the effect of gender on HIV/AIDS.Methods: Reported HIV/AIDS cases from the official epidemiological register of the Ukrainian Centre for AIDS Prevention alongside data from the Russian Federal AIDS Center were analyzed. Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS country fact sheets were reviewed and analyzed, and this information was supplemented with published HIV prevalence and sexually transmitted disease case reporting information, unpublished reports, and expert evaluations.Results: Of the newly registered cases of HIV, the proportion of women rose from 13.0% in 1995 to 44.0% in 2006 in the Russian Federation, and from 37.2% in 1995 to 41.9% in 2006 in the Ukraine. There has also been a considerable increase in mother-to-child transmission of HIV since 1995. Between 1987 and 1994, the proportion of children among the people newly infected with HIV in the Ukraine was 2.2%; in 2006 it was 17.6%. In 2006, 16,078 new HIV cases were registered in the Ukraine and 39,652 new HIV cases in the Russian Federation. Large increases in the number of HIV-infected women were reported from both countries.Conclusions: The data examined in this study suggest subregional differences in the magnitude of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Russian Federation and the Ukraine and the importance of the impact of gender on the rapid spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic among women and women of child-bearing age. To protect women from HIV infection, it is important to find ways to empower them by implementing policies and specific prevention measures that increase their access to knowledge about HIV/AIDS; the empowerment of women is vital to reversing the HIV/AIDS epidemic.     

Incidence of AIDS and excess of mortality associated with HIV in haemophiliacs in the United Kingdom: report on behalf of the directors of haemophilia centres in the United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVE--To estimate the cumulative incidence of AIDS by time since seroconversion in haemophiliacs positive for HIV and to examine the evidence for excess mortality associated with HIV in those who had not yet been diagnosed as having AIDS. DESIGN--Analysis of data from ongoing national surveys. SETTING--Haemophilia centres in the United Kingdom. PATIENTS--A total of 1201 men with haemophilia who had lived in the United Kingdom during 1980-7 and were positive for HIV. INTERVENTION--None. END POINTS--Diagnosis of AIDS; death in those not diagnosed as having AIDS. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS--Estimation of cumulative incidence of AIDS and number of excess deaths in seropositive patients not diagnosed with AIDS. Median follow up after seroconversion was 5 years 2 months. Eight five patients developed AIDS. Cumulative incidence of AIDS five years after seroconversion was 4% among patients aged less than 25 at first test positive for HIV, 6% among those aged 25-44, and 19% among those aged greater than or equal to 45. There was little evidence that type or severity of haemophilia or type of factor VIII or IX that had caused HIV infection affected the rate of progression to AIDS. Mortality was increased among those who had not been diagnosed as having AIDS, especially among those with "AIDS related complex." Thirteen deaths were observed among 36 patients diagnosed as having AIDS related complex against 0.65 expected, and 34 deaths in 1080 other patients against 22.77 expected; both calculations were based on mortality rates observed in haemophiliacs in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. CONCLUSIONS--Rate of progression to AIDS depended strongly on age. There is a substantial burden of fatal disease among patients positive for HIV who have not been formally diagnosed as having AIDS.     

Human retroviral infections in The Gambia: prevalence and clinical features

The prevalence of infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV 1) is lower in west Africa than in other parts of Africa. Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV 2) has been isolated from west African patients and may be transmitted by heterosexual contact. The prevalence of antibodies to HIV 1 and HIV 2 was studied by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) among various groups of subjects in The Gambia, west Africa—namely, prostitutes, blood donors, patients with suspected infection with HIV, patients attending clinics for sexually transmitted diseases, and patients with tuberculosis. Four cases of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) due to infection with HIV 1 were detected, of which three had been acquired abroad. No other subject was found to be positive for antibodies to HIV 1. The prevalence of antibodies to HIV 2 among the patients attending clinics for sexually transmitted diseases was found to have increased from 0/117 in 1984 to 10/185 (5%) in the last six months of 1986. One out of 278 blood donors was positive for antibodies to HIV 2 as were 10 out of 80 patients with suspected AIDS.HIV 2 seems to be transmitted sexually, and, although it has been present for only a short time, it seems to be endemic in The Gambia and is pathogenic.     

Epidemiological features of HIV infection among pregnant women in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

Women in Benue State have for years had the highest HIV rate in the country, but because the sentinel surveys are anonymized and unlinked, not much is known about the socio-demographic, behavioural and other risk factors that predispose these women to the disease. The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Nigeria does not appear to be a single epidemic but rather multiple epidemics of varying magnitude and trends. This cross-sectional study was therefore carried out to identify the risk factors for HIV/AIDS among these women. A total of 404 consecutive consenting mothers enrolled at the booking clinic were followed up until delivery of their babies. They were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire and tested for HIV infection using an ELISA-based kit after obtaining informed consent. Mean age of the mothers was 26+/-6.1 years, 94.8% were married while 50.5% had at least secondary level education. Sixty-one (15.1%) mothers were HIV positive with mothers aged 15-24 years being responsible for 50.8% of all infection. Following bivariate analysis, being single, having a partner with low level of formal education, living in a rural location, being in a polygamous/multiple partner union, being a higher order polygamous wife, being married more than once and reporting a history of a sexually transmitted infection were significantly associated with HIV infection. Monogamous women who lived apart from their partners and women who had ever had blood transfusion were also more likely to be HIV positive. Following multivariate logistic regression, a young age of 15-24 years (multivariate OR=3.3, 95 % CI=1.2-8.4, p=0.02); ever had other STIs (OR=1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.3, p=0.009); no formal maternal education (OR=0.6, 95% CI 0.4-0.9, p=0.021) and having one lifetime sexual partner (OR=0.4, 95% CI 0.3-0.5, p<0.00001) were significantly associated with HIV infection in the study population. Appropriate interventions must be directed at young people and should include STI control and abstinence education. Blood safety must be ensured as well as a general improvement in the level of formal and health education in this community.     

Penicillium marneffei Infection in Immunocompromised Host

Penicillium marneffei (PM) was first described in 1973, causing human infection in a patient with Hodgkin Lymphoma. In the HIV/AIDS epidemic, it has been described as one of the important opportunistic infection following tuberculosis and cryptococcosis in endemic region of Southeast Asia and Southern China. Immunocompromised patients acquire penicilliosis through inhalation of conidia, resulting in disseminated disease characterized by prolonged fever, pancytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, and classic cutaneous presentation of umbilicated papular eruption. Nowadays, rare manifestations such as fungemia, pneumonia, enterocolitis, genital ulcers, oral ulcer, and central nervous system infection have been reported. Over the past decade, molecular and genomic studies have revealed more knowledge of PM, and vaccines are under development. Modern era PM has become a serious threat in immunocompromised travelers, rather than HIV/AIDS patient in the endemic area, who receive an effective prophylaxis strategy along with the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) initiation.     

Disease in children infected with HIV in Abidjan,C?te d'Ivoire.

OBJECTIVE--To document the range of disease in African children infected with HIV. DESIGN--Necropsy results in consecutive children aged 1 month or more who were HIV positive and in children who were HIV negative for comparison; IgA western blots on serum samples from children under 2 years of age who were positive for HIV-1 to test the validity of routine HIV serology. SETTING--Largest hospital in Abidjan, Côte d''Ivoire. SUBJECTS--78 children who were HIV positive and 77 children who were HIV negative on whom a necropsy was performed; their median ages at death were 18 and 21 months respectively. 36 HIV positive children and 29 HIV negative children were 1-14 months old; 42 HIV positive and 48 HIV negative children were > or = 15 months old. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Cause of death and prevalence of diseases confirmed pathologically. RESULTS--Respiratory tract infections were more common in HIV positive than in HIV negative children (73 (94%) v 52 (68%); P < 0.05), and were aetiologically heterogeneous. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was found in 11 out of 36 (31%) HIV positive children aged < 15 months, but in no HIV negative children. Among older children measles was more common in HIV positive children (8/42 (19%) v 2/48 (4%); P < 0.06). Pyogenic meningitis was present in similar proportions of HIV positive and HIV negative children aged < 15 months (7/36 (19%) and 7/29 (24%)). In HIV positive children tuberculosis (1/78), lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis (1/78), and HIV encephalitis (2/78) were rare. CONCLUSIONS--There is greater overlap between diseases associated with HIV infection and other common health problems in African children than there is in adults. Compared with adults, HIV positive children had a high prevalence of P carinii pneumonia and a low prevalence of tuberculosis. Measles, but not malaria, was associated with HIV infection.     

Twenty years of human immunodeficiency virus infection in Croatia--an epidemic that is still in an early stage

Croatia has a low-level HIV epidemic; 553 persons were diagnosed with HIV infection in the period 1985-2005. The principal mode of transmission was sex between men (40% of cases) and heterosexual contact (40%). Only about 10% of cases were injecting drug users. Testing data also suggest a low prevalence of HIV infection in Croatia, even in vulnerable groups. Behavioral data indicate risky sexual behaviors, with the clear need for interventions. National policy towards HIVIAIDS is operated through the National Committee on HIV/AIDS, a multisectorial advisory body to the Government of Croatia. Croatia applied to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in 2002 which resulted in a 4,9 million USD grant for scaling up prevention interventions. Croatia has a centralized system of treatment and care which is provided at the University Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Zagreb. Highly active antiretroviral treatment is provided free of charge from April 1998.     

Incidence of tuberculosis among reported AIDS cases in Quebec from 1979 to 1996

BACKGROUND: The impact of HIV infection on tuberculosis (TB) rates in Quebec has not been fully established. Because concurrent HIV infection is the single most important factor in TB reactivation, the authors used Quebec AIDS surveillance data to quantify the extent of TB among reported AIDS cases and to identify the characteristics of AIDS patients with TB. METHODS: The study population comprised people aged 15 years and over with AIDS diagnosed between Jan. 1, 1979, and Dec. 31, 1996, and reported by Mar. 13, 1997. Patients with TB (all forms) and those without TB were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the independent effect of each variable on the AIDS-TB cases. The authors also compared the number of AIDS-TB cases with the number of TB cases to estimate the effect of HIV infection on TB incidence. RESULTS: Of the 4684 people with AIDS reported in Quebec, 242 (5.2%) had active TB at some point during the course of their illness. During 1992-1995, 9.6% of the people with TB in Montreal, and 5.8% in the province of Quebec, also had HIV infection. Those with AIDS and TB were predominantly male (75.2%), manual workers (40.1%) and residents of Montreal (86.4%) and were born in an HIV-endemic country (63.8%). The multivariate analysis indicated that AIDS patients who were born in HIV-endemic countries in the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa or other developing regions were 21.8 times (95% confidence interval [CI] 19.5-28.5), 17.9 times (95% CI 12.7-27.1) and 4.9 times (95% CI 3.5-7.0) more likely to have TB than those born in Canada; manual workers and unemployed people with AIDS were 1.6 times (95% CI 1.3-2.0) and 2.0 times (95% CI 1.5-2.6) more likely to have TB than professional workers; and people who acquired HIV infection through heterosexual contact were 2.1 times (95% CI 1.6-3.1) more likely to have TB than men who acquired it through sexual contact with other men. INTERPRETATION: AIDS seems to contribute significantly to the number of TB cases. The results of this study reinforce the importance of offering HIV testing to people in high-risk groups, such as those born in a country where HIV and TB is endemic.     

Factors associated with lack of awareness of HIV infection before diagnosis of AIDS.

OBJECTIVE--To identify characteristics of people likely to be unaware of their HIV infection before diagnosis of AIDS defining disease. DESIGN--Survey of continuing surveillance of voluntarily reported AIDS cases. SUBJECTS--4127 adults with AIDS diagnosed during 1989-92 and reported to the Public Health Laboratory Service AIDS Centre. SETTING--England and Wales. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Lack of prolonged awareness of infection before diagnosis of AIDS, defined as an interval of nine months or less between first positive test result and diagnosis of AIDS. RESULTS--Of 3556 adults with known dates of first positive HIV test result and AIDS diagnosis, 1742 (49%) had been unaware of their infection for up to nine months before AIDS was diagnosed. Lack of awareness was independently and positively associated with infection through heterosexual contact (odds ratio 4.46, 95% confidence interval 3.15 to 6.33), AIDS reported outside the Thames regions (1.64, 1.38 to 1.96), and being non-white (1.99, 1.51 to 2.61). Women were less likely to be unaware than men (0.50, 0.33 to 0.76), and people diagnosed in 1992 were least likely to be unaware (0.48, 0.39 to 0.60). Those aged 25-49 years at diagnosis were less likely to be unaware than those aged 15-24 years and those aged 50 and over. CONCLUSIONS--People with certain characteristics are more likely than others to be unaware of their HIV infection before AIDS is diagnosed and are therefore less likely to receive prophylaxis. Methods for educating this heterogeneous group need to be investigated.     

The clinico-epidemiological characteristics of HIV infection and AIDS in Ukraine

The summarized results of the observations of 449 hospitalized patients, aged mainly 18-37 years (40 patients with active AIDS, 43 patients with AIDS, other patients were HIV carriers and infected at the stage of lymphadenopathy). In most of the HIV-infected patients the infection process progressed in 3-5 years, which was manifested by associated candidiasis in 74.7% of cases. In AIDS patients opportunistic infections of viral etiology (herpes simplex, cytomegalovirus infection, etc.) prevailed. 14 patients were found to have tuberculosis. Clinico-epidemiological analysis made it possible to come to the conclusion that the specific features of HIV carriership and AIDS were greatly linked with different groups of risk to which the patients belonged. Thus, a shorter period of carriership, the prevalence of opportunistic viral infections were mostly characteristic of drug addicts.     

The epidemic situation in relation to HIV infection in Ukraine (1987-1997)

The analysis of the dynamics of the epidemic process for 10 years made it possible to find out the presence of two separate epidemic waves of HIV infection. The first wave (1987-1994) was manifested as the slow type of the development of the epidemic, characterized mainly by sexual transmission. During this period 398 persons with HIV infection were detected, 24 persons were found to have AIDS; of these, 13 persons died. The second epidemic wave began in 1995 and was due to the spread of HIV among users of drugs introduced by injection. By the end of 1995 the number of HIV carriers was 34 times greater than that of 1994, reaching 1490 persons. In 1996-1997 this figure increased 8 times (annually). The number of AIDS patients rose to 420 persons. The most unfavorable regions with respect to HIV infection and AIDS morbidity were determined. The western regions of the Ukraine were noted to be in a more favorable situation in this respect with infection indices being lower more than 30 times. Up to 80% of all infected persons were found to be addicts introducing drugs intravenously. Growing morbidity in sexually transmitted disease, particularly in syphilis, contributed to the deterioration of the epidemiological situation. The conclusion was made on the necessity of introducing new prophylactic programs and expanding current ones. The signs of stabilization in Odessa and Nikolayev were observed; in these cities pilot programs aimed at the strategy of the "decrease of harm" have been introduced (in collaboration with UNAIDS) since 1996.     

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Infection among HIV/AIDS Patients in Eastern China

Toxoplasmosis, a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, occurs throughout the world. Human T. gondii infection is asymptomatic in 80% of the population; however, the infection is life-threatening and causes substantial neurologic damage in immunocompromised patients such as HIV-infected persons. The major purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in subjects infected with HIV/AIDS in eastern China. Our findings showed 9.7% prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody in HIV/AIDS patients, which was higher than in intravenous drug users (2.2%) and healthy controls (4.7%), while no significant difference was observed in the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibody among all participants (P>0.05). Among all HIV/AIDS patients, 15 men (7.7%) and 10 women (15.9%) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibody; however, no significant difference was detected in the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody between males and females. The frequency of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody was 8.0%, 13.2%, 5.5%, and 0% in patients with normal immune function (CD4⁺ T-lymphocyte count ≥500 cells/ml), immunocompromised patients (cell count ≥200 and <500 cells/ml), severely immunocompromised patients (cell count ≥50 and <200 cells/ml), and advanced AIDS patients, respectively (cell count <50 cells/ml), while only 3 immunocompromised patients were positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibody. The results indicate a high seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in HIV/AIDS patients in eastern China, and a preventive therapy for toxoplasmosis may be given to HIV/AIDS patients based on CD4⁺ T lymphocyte count.     

Progression of HIV disease in a haemophilic cohort followed for 11 years and the effect of treatment.

OBJECTIVE--To describe the progression of HIV disease in a haemophilic cohort and to show the influence of treatment. DESIGN--11 year longitudinal clinical and laboratory study. SETTING--A haemophilia centre. PATIENTS--111 patients infected with HIV during October 1979 to July 1985. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Symptoms of HIV infection, AIDs, and death. INTERVENTIONS--26 asymptomatic patients started taking zidovudine or placebo (1000 mg/day) during November 1988 to February 1990; 10 patients with CD4+ counts of 0.2 x 10(9)/l started zidovudine 500 mg/day during January to November 1990. 35 patients used pentamidine for primary or secondary prophylaxis. RESULTS--At 11 years from seroconversion the estimated rate of progression to AIDS was 42% (95% confidence interval 27% to 57%); to symptoms 85% (75% to 95%); and to death 41% (25% to 57%). Progression to AIDS was significantly faster in patients aged 25 and over than in those aged less than 25 (relative risk 5.0 (2.4 to 10.4); p less than 0.00001) and in those with previous cytomegalovirus infection than in those not infected (relative risk 3.0 (1.4 to 6.8); p = 0.006). 16 of 27 (59%) patients with p24 antigenaemia developed AIDS compared with 17 of 84 (20%) patients without p24 antigen (p less than 0.001). The risk of progression to AIDS before 30 November 1988 in patients with CD4+ counts less than or equal to 0.2 x 10(9)/l was higher than after November 1988 (relative risk 1.9 (0.85 to 4.43); p = 0.1). For 1989 and 1990 the observed cumulative numbers of AIDS cases (among 81 patients with sufficient CD4+ counts) were 22 and 25 compared with 29 and 37 predicted from the rate of fall of CD4+ counts up to the end of 1988 (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION--Treatment seems to be reducing the progression of HIV disease in this haemophilic cohort.     

Epidemic levels of drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR and XDR-TB) in a high HIV prevalence setting in Khayelitsha, South Africa

Background

Although multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is emerging as a significant threat to tuberculosis control in high HIV prevalence countries such as South Africa, limited data is available on the burden of drug resistant tuberculosis and any association with HIV in such settings. We conducted a community-based representative survey to assess the MDR-TB burden in Khayelitsha, an urban township in South Africa with high HIV and TB prevalence.

Methodology/Principal Findings

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adult clinic attendees suspected for pulmonary tuberculosis in two large primary care clinics, together constituting 50% of the tuberculosis burden in Khayelitsha. Drug susceptibility testing (DST) for isoniazid and rifampicin was conducted using a line probe assay on positive sputum cultures, and with culture-based DST for first and second-line drugs. Between May and November 2008, culture positive pulmonary tuberculosis was diagnosed in 271 new and 264 previously treated tuberculosis suspects (sample enriched with previously treated cases). Among those with known HIV status, 55% and 71% were HIV infected respectively. MDR-TB was diagnosed in 3.3% and 7.7% of new and previously treated cases. These figures equate to an estimated case notification rate for MDR-TB of 51/100,000/year, with new cases constituting 55% of the estimated MDR-TB burden. HIV infection was not significantly associated with rifampicin resistance in multivariate analyses.

Conclusions/Significance

There is an extremely high burden of MDR-TB in this setting, most likely representing ongoing transmission. These data highlight the need to diagnose drug resistance among all TB cases, and for innovative models of case detection and treatment for MDR-TB, in order to interrupt transmission and control this emerging epidemic.