Effect of Tuberculosis Co infection on Virological Failure in HIV Patients on First Line of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

In developing countries, Tuberculosis is the commonest coinfection to occur in HIV positive patients and is supposed to impact the treatment outcome in patients on antiretroviral therapy. This prospective study was conducted in Department of Microbiology, PGIMS Rohtak to study the effect of coinfection with TB on Virological Failure in patients on first line of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy. A total of 50 patients on first line of HAART and suffering from Immunological Failure were chosen and were evaluated for Tuberculosis. Plasma viral load of these patients was done to find Virological Failure patients and the effect of coinfection with TB on Virological Failure was studied. Out of 50 patients with Immunological Failure, 17(34%) had HIV-TB coinfection. Eight out of 50 patients had Virological Failure and coinfection with TB was seen in 7 (87%) out of 8 Virological Failure patients. The occurrence of Virological Failure is more likely if the patient has coinfection with TB. Prevention and timely treatment of this coinfection is vital to prevent the development of Virological Failure.