A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON SEROPREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS-B AND HEPATITIS-C INFECTION AMONG HIV POSITIVE AND HIV NEGATIVE INDIVIDUALS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

BACKGROUNDHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) are major public health concerns. HIV positive individuals are at increased risk of coinfection with HBV and HCV infections due to the high degree of epidemiological similarity between these viruses in terms of routes of transmission, associated risk factors and the presence of these viruses in various body fluids. With the decline in HIVassociated morbidity and mortality following the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), liver disease caused by chronic HBV and HCV coinfection in HIV positive individuals has emerged as a leading cause of hospitalization. AIM To determine and compare the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection serologically in HIV positive and HIV negative individuals. To assess the risk factors among the HIV infected individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study population included 100 HIV positive infected patients, tested in ICTC (Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre), and 100 HIV negative individuals who were volunteer blood donors. Blood samples were subjected to serological analysis for HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies, using Rapid Immunochromatography test and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).RESULTSOut of 100 HIV positive individuals, HBV coinfection was detected in seven (7 percent) patients and HCV coinfection was detected in only one (1 percent) patient. None of the HIV infected patients were positive for both HBV and HCV infections . The most common risk factor of HIV, HBV and HCV, in our study population, was found to be the sexual behaviour. Among the 100 HIV negative individuals, two (2 percent) participants were having HBV infection. HCV antibodies was not detected among the HIV negative population.CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of HBV (7 percent) and HCV(1 percent) infection, among the HIV positive individuals, was higher, when compared with HIV negative individuals. An Initiative of The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University University Journal of Pre and Para Clinical Sciences HBV-HIV and HCV-HIV coinfections were more common in patients, belonging to the age group of 35 to 55 years, mostly in men, and in those who were married and exhibited polygamous activity. Clearly, all HIV infected patients should be screened for HBV and HCV, taking into account shared pathways of transmission.