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Infectious Diseases
and STD-AIDS
Infectious Diseases and STD-AIDS 2018
Journal of Transmitted Diseases and Immunity
ISSN 2471-8084
A p r i l 2 6 - 2 7 , 2 0 1 8
R o m e , I t a l y
Page 36
Background:
Lower respiratory tract fungal infections are the most common
cause of clinical manifestations among People Living with HIV (PLWHIV) and
their impact is well documented. However, there is little information regarding
the profile and drug susceptibility pattern of these pathogens. Thus, the aim
of this study was to determine the profile of lower respiratory tract fungal
pathogens and their drug susceptibility pattern among PLWHIV in Ethiopia.
Methodology:
A cross-sectional study was conducted in St Paul’s hospital
millennium medical college, Addis Ababa. We enrolled a total of 142 adult
PLWHIV, with symptoms of lower respiratory tract infections consecutively.
We used a structured questioner to collect socio-demographic variables and
clinical data of the participants. One early morning sputum was collected for
fungal culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Four millilitre whole
blood was also collected for CD4+ T cell count. Data was analyzed by IBM
SPSS version 22.0. We used descriptive statistics to describe the profile and
drug susceptibility pattern of fungal pathogens. We also used Pearson Chie-
square test to compare groups, and multiple logistic regression model was
employed to determine factors associated with fungal infections.
Results:
Of total participants 62% were females and the average age was
39.8(+10.35) years with range 16 to 75 years. The overall fungal pathogens
isolated were 32.4%, and Aspergillus species were the most frequently (11.3%)
isolated pathogen. CD4+ T cell count (AOR = 1.02; 95% CI, (1.01 – 1.03)) and
WHO HIV clinical stages (AOR = 6.1; 95% CI, (5.9 – 8.01)) were significantly
associated with fungal infection. Candida species were susceptible to all
antifungal agents; however Candida krusei was resistant to Fluconazole.
Conclusion: The overall magnitudes of fungal pathogens isolated were
considerable. Aspergillus species was the most frequently isolated fungal
pathogen. CD4+ T cell count and WHO HIV clinical stages were significantly
associated with fungal infection. Fungal pathogen screening among PLWHIV
with symptoms of lower respiratory tract infections is crucial, while targeting
individuals with low CD4+ T cell count and at advanced WHO HIV clinical
stages.
Keywords— Lower Respiratory Tract Infections, fungi, Drug susceptibility
pattern, Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
Biography
Ephrem have completed his BSc at the age of 21 years from
Haramaya University and MSc from Addis Ababa University
College of Health Sciences. He is the head of National TB Refer-
ence Laboratory and TB research team at the Ethiopian Public
Health Institute. He has published more than 5 papers in reput-
ed journals in collaboration with other researchers.
ephremt13@gmail.comFungal Profile of Lower Respiratory Tract Infections and Drug
Susceptibility Pattern among People Living with HIV in Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia
Ephrem T.
1
, Habteyes H.
1
, Zemedu M.
1
, Adane B.
2
1
Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Ethiopia
2
Addis Ababa University, College of Health Sciences, Ethiopia
Ephrem T. et al., J Transm Dis Immun 2018 Volume 2
DOI: 10.21767/2573-0320-C1-002