Prevalence of Pulmonary Mycoses among HIV Infected Clients Attending Anti-Retroviral Therapy Clinic at Kisoro District Hospital, Western Uganda

Aim: For determining the prevalence of pulmonary mycosis among HIV infected clients attending anti-retroviral therapy clinic at Kisoro district Hospital in Western Uganda.

Study Design: This was a cross- sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: This was conducted in the anti-retroviral therapy (ART) clinic at Kisoro District Hospital (KDH) during the months of March to July, 2016.

Methodology: We collected sputum samples from HIV sero positive clients that were enrolled in the ISS clinic. We did microscopic examination using Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) staining technique and sputum culture on sabroid dextrose agar (SDA), and identified to isolate fungal pathogens. Further, we obtained about 4.0 milliliters of ethylene-di-amine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) blood that was used to assay CD4+ cell counts. Data was analyzed, and presented as proportions.

Results: Of the 252 participants, 136 (53.97%) were females. The mean and median age was 38.94 (SD±12.64) and 38 years, respectively. The prevalence of pulmonary mycosis was 34/252 (13.49%; 95% CI=9.53-18.34), of which 12(35%; 95% CI=19.75-53.51) were molds and 22 (64.71%; 95% CI=46.49-80.25) were yeasts. The species isolated and their proportions were: Candida albicans (10/252, 3.97%), other Candida species (7/25, 2.78%), Aspergillus species (6/252, 2.38%), Penicillium species (5/252, 1.98%), Cryptococcus species (4/252, 1.59%), Basidiomycetes (1/252, 0.40%) and Acremonium species (1/252, 0.40%).

Conclusion: From this study, we report a high prevalence of pulmonary mycosis that is associated with deteriorating immunological state. In addition, it presents with signs and symptoms aping Mycobacterium tuberculosis.