Vilaiporn Suvedyathavorn. Epidemiological study of Cryptosporidium infection in HIV/AIDS population . Master's Degree(Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2003.
Epidemiological study of Cryptosporidium infection in HIV/AIDS population
Abstract:
A cross-sectional analytical study to determine the prevalence and identify
potential factors associated with Cryptosporidium infection among HIV/AIDS patients
was conducted at Rajavithi Hospital, Siriraj Hospital, and Bamrasnaradura Infectious
Disease Hospital during August 2002 to March 2003. In the study of 143 HIV/AIDS
adult patients with diarrhea, a total of 23 cases with Cryptosporidium infection and
120 with Cryptosporidium negative were reported during the study period. Data were
collected by interview with a questionnaire, and stool samples were collected for
Cryptosporidium oocysts detection by the Modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining method.
Data were analyzed by univariate analysis and stratified analysis, controlling for
gender.
Results revealed that the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis was 16.1%. The
prevalence was lower than that of some previous reports due to the introduction of
highly active antiretroviral therapy and better awareness of risk for infectious
diarrhea. The factors associated with Cryptosporidium infection were female gender
(OR=2.9, 95%CI=1.173-7.251, p=0.018), history of diarrhea > 21 days (OR=2.8,
95%CI=1.072-7.283, p=0.031), CD4
+count ≤ 50 cells/mm3 (OR=11, 95%CI=1.387-
87.986, p=0.006), and WBC count < 4,000 cells/ mm3 (OR=3.1, 95%CI=1.172-8.175,
p=0.019). In a stratified analysis controlling for gender, factors associated with
Cryptosporidium infection were history of diarrhea > 21 days, CD4
+ count ≤ 50
cells/mm3, and WBC count < 4,000 cells/ mm3.
These findings confirmed that there was a strong association between
cryptosporidiosis and CD4
+count. Such information may provide possible
recommended strategies for preventing cryptosporidiosis in HIV/AIDS persons.