Sero-prevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C co- infections in HIV infected patients at a tertiary care hospital of eastern Nepal

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) are common viral infections worldwide. As these viruses havesimilar mode of transmission, the risk of co-infection is high, resulting in rapid progression of the disease. Objective The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C among newly diagnosed HIV infected patients attending a tertiary care hospital of eastern Nepal. Methods A total of 100 newly diagnosed HIV positive patients attending CD4 laboratory, B.P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal who gave informed written consent to participate in the study were included. Questionnaires included basic demographic data, previous history and risks associated with mode of transmission of HIV, HBV and HCV infection. The blood was collected and tested for HBsAg and anti- HCV antibodies using rapid screening kits. Results Among 100 newly diagnosed HIV positive patients enrolled in our study, the overall rate of co-infection was 22%, among which 8 were positive for HBV infection while 14 were positive for HCV infection. Two of the samples were positive for both HBV and HCV co-infections among the HIV infected patients. Conclusion Our study reported high prevalence of HBV and HCV co-infections among HIV infected patients which is a serious health concern. So, we recommend routine screening for both Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infections in HIV positive patients for early diagnosis and proper management of these diseases. Keywords HIV; HBV; HCV; Co-infections.