Abstract
Introduction: Early identification of HIV infection in those with TB, especially in DRTB patients, is essential because together are responsible for high mortality rate and poor treatment outcomes. The association of these two epidemics is still not fully investigated in clinical practice.
Aim: To identify the HIV detection rate of DRTB patients diagnosed in Romania in 2012
Material and method: The data were collected from the Electronic National TB Register and analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2007.
Results: A total of 816 DRTB patients (new cases and re-treatments) have been reported in 2012. By the resistance profiles 217(27%) had MDRTB alone and 74(9.2%) XDRTB. Although HIV infection and TB are intimately linked, there are still some major barriers that contribute to untested for HIV (173cases). The routine HIV screening was done for only 510(62.5%)DRTB cases, of which 30 patients had a positive HIV test. The demographic characteristics of this latter group were: younger people from urban resident, with mean age=29±10.5 years, men/female ratio=2:1, 13(43.3%) represent new cases, 7(23.3%) had previously MDR TB diagnosis, 1 case was Prisoner, 1 case was IDU and 1 case had diagnosed post-mortem. The vast majority (76.6%) received TB treatment with at least 4 drugs. In 17 cases doesn't obtained culture conversion. Despite beginning the antiretroviral therapy in 24(80%) cases, there were registered 10 deaths after a median duration of treatment of 5.8 months.
Conclusion: The overlap of DR TB-HIV represents a tremendous challenge and threatens progress in controlling infection. It is essential that all people who have, or are suspected to have TB, to benefit for easy access to HIV testing, counseling and universal treatment.
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