Overview of the HIV/tuberculosis coinfection in Bogotá, Colombia, 2001.

Abstract

The magnitude and characteristics of the co-infection of TB-AIDS was evaluated in cases reported in Bogotá, 2001. A cross sectional study was carried out using the epidemiological registry of TBC-AIDS cases from the Health Secretariat of Bogotá. Only TB cases with a positive HIV test were included in. Of 950 TB cases reported in Bogotá, 113 (11.9%) were indicated to have TB and HIV positive tests; epidemiological information was recovered from 103 of them. Most cases were male (male:female ratio was 12:1); 38.8% were between ages 25 to 34; 40.8% of cases belonged to the contributive regime; 82% were new cases. Of the 105 cases, 62% were classified with the pulmonary form of TB and 30% with extra pulmonary disease. In the last group, the most frequent form was lymph node tuberculosis. Diagnostic criteria were recorded for only 55 patients; however, 78% were confirmed with microscopic smears. Procedural data were available for 29 patients in the first phase of treatments; 86.2% had received therapy recommended by the Ministry of Health. The failures of TB control programs indicated by statistical data, do not reflect patient's activities that may be contributing to greater infection risk. Additional monitoring may be necessary to fortify the current TB control program.