International Journal of Medical and Health Research

Background: Tuberculosis is the most common opportunistic infection in HIV patients, which may be caused by either Mycobacterium tuberculosis or non-tuberculous Mycobacterial species. There is scarcity of data enumerating the proportion of different mycobacterial species causing pulmonary Tuberculosis in HIV patients in North east India.

Aims & Objectives: (1) Understanding the proportion of Pulmonary TB co-infection in the HIV seropositive patients (2) Characterization of different mycobacterial isolates in such cases.

Materials & Methods: Sputum samples from 50 HIV cases clinically and radiologically suspected with TB were tested for presence of Mycobacterial species by concentrated smear microscopy with ZN staining and conventional solid and liquid culture. MPT 64 Ag detection assay, LPA and CBNAAT were also performed.

Results & Conclusion: Out of the 50 cases, 24 cases were smear positive and 18 cases showed culture positive; of which, 13 isolates were of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and 5 isolates were of Non- tuberculous Mycobacteria.