, Zehra Karacaer 2
, Veysel Akça 3
, Bülent Kaya 4
, İlkay Akbulut 5
, Esra Duru Öz 5
, Semanur Kuzi 6
, Fatma Eser 7
, Alper Tahmaz 8
, Süheyla Kömür 9
, Ayşe Seza İnal 9
, İlkay Karaoğlan 10
, Seniha Şenbayrak 11
, Özgür Günal 12
, Şeyma Topal 12
, Tuba Damar Çakırca 13
, Ayhan Akbulut 14
, Tükan Kaygusuz 14
, Özlem Aydın 1
, Pınar Ergen 1
, Hülya Caşkurlu 1
, Nazan Tuna 15
, Mehmet Çabalak 16
, Behice Kurtaran 9
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2Department of Infection Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Gülhane Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Türkiye
3Department of Infection Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Muğla Training and Research Hospital, Muğla, Türkiye
4Department of Infection Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Kartal Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital, İstanbul, Türkiye
5Department of Infection Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Türkiye
6Department of Infection Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Etlik City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
7Department of Infection Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Yıldırım Beyazıt University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
8Department of Infection Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Türkiye
9Department of Infection Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Türkiye
10Department of Infection Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep, Türkiye
11Department of Infection Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, University Health Sciences Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Türkiye
12Department of Infection Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Samsun University Faculty of Medicine, Samsun, Türkiye
13Department of Infection Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Sanliurfa Training and Research Hospital, Şanlıurfa, Türkiye
14Department of Infection Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Fırat University Faculty of Medicine, Elazığ, Türkiye
15Department of Infection Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University, Faculty of Medicine, Tekirdağ, Türkiye
16Department of Infection Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Hatay, Türkiye
Abstract
Objective: The intersection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) presents a significant public health challenge, particularly in regions with high prevalence of both diseases. This multicenter, retrospective study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, and factors influencing the development of TB in individuals infected with HIV.
Materials and Methods: This multicenter, retrospective study included individuals infected with HIV from 15 centers, assessing demographic and disease-related data. Inclusion criteria encompassed HIV patients over 18 years of age with TB treatment histories. Data analysis utilized SPSS Statistics version 25.0, adhering to the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.
Results: The study included 9,720 HIV-infected patients from 15 centers, with TB detected in 124 (1.28%) of these individuals. The majority were male, and the median age at TB diagnosis was 43 years. Clinical findings revealed that pulmonary TB was the most common form (69.4%), with weight loss, cough, and fever as prevalent symptoms. The study also noted a significant delay in TB diagnosis, with a median symptom duration of 60 days. Only six patients exhibited resistance to TB medications. The most commonly used antiretroviral treatment regimen was tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine/dolutegravir (TDF/FTC/DTG). Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) developed in 12.1% of patients. Despite these challenges, 79.8% of patients successfully completed TB treatment. However, mortality was observed in 11.3% of cases.
Conclusion: The study highlighted the need for improved screening and prophylaxis for latent TB in individuals infected with HIV, especially those with low CD4+ T lymphocyte counts. The results underscore the importance of timely diagnosis and careful management of HIV-TB co-infection to reduce morbidity and mortality.