Journal of Antivirals & Antiretrovirals
Open Access
ISSN: 1948-5964
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 1948-5964
+44 1300 500008
Uzoewulu Ngozi G, Okonkwo Robert Chuks, Anyabolu A E, Heanyichukwu Martin, Kalu Stephen O, Onwunzo Maria C and Chukwu Chiamaka
Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Antivir Antiretrovir
After decades of decline, TB made a dramatic comeback, a situation largely fueled by the emergence of the HIV pandemic, amongst other factors. Including overcrowding, poverty and weak health care system. HIV/TB co-infection presently poses serious public health challenges, especially in the African region, including Nigeria. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HIV amongst PTB suspects at Nnewi, Nigeria. A total of 1544 pulmonary TB suspects assessing the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, who were screened for TB using Ziehl Neelson sputum smear microscopy, were also subjected to HIV counseling and testing (HCT). Of the 1544 PTB suspects 184 (11.9%) reacted to HIV antibodies with a higher frequently in the females (13.3%) than the males (10.4%). Total of 237 (15.4%) of the 1544 suspects had pulmonary TB infection with the prevalence being higher in the males (19.9%) than in the females (11.2%). A total of 22 (1.42%) were HIV/TB co-infected, with the males (1.6%) having a slightly higher frequency than the females (1.2%). The age distributions showed that the age groups of 31-40 and 41-50 years had the highest frequencies for HIV and TB infections in this study. The infection rate was lower among participants below 20 and above 60 years of age. More accurate method of detecting TB may be applied in future work to help understand the real burden of TB amongst HIV patients.
Dr. Uzoewulu Ngozi is from Anambra State, Nigeria. She had Bachelor of Science (B.Sc), in general Microbiology, Master of Science (M.Sc) in Medical Microbiology, Master of Philosophy (M. Phil) 2007 and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) 2012 in medical Microbiology with specialization in Molecular Mycobacteriology, all at renowned universities in Nigeria in collaboration with university of Hertfordshire Hatfield England, United Kingdom. She also obtained a professional degree in Medical Laboratory Science (AMLSCN) with specialization in Bacteriology/Parasitology. She has also been to Cleveland Clinic Ohio, USA for Assisted Reproductive Training (IVF/ICSI). She is working as a Chief Medical Scientists at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Nigeria.