Prevalence of Pulmonary Tuberculosis and its co-infection with Fungal Pathogens in Patients with Lower Respiratory Tract Infections Referred to St. Peter’s Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| dc.contributor.advisor | Adane Bitew | |
| dc.contributor.author | Zenawit Lakew | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-08-12T20:06:24Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-08-12T20:06:24Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-06-15 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Background: Tuberculosis remains a worldwide problem despite efforts to eliminate the disease and TB co-infection with fungal pathogens.Co-infection is the occurrence of concurrent infection of an individual with more than one disease-causing pathogen. The most frequent co infection is that of PTB co-infected with HIV and that of PTB co-infected with Candidiasis. Objective: To determine the prevalence and etiologies of tuberculosis and TB fungal co infection in patients with signs and symptoms of lower respiratory tract infections. Materials and methods: A prospective hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted at the study site through November 2023 and May 2024. From 530 study participants, sputum samples were obtained. Using a GeneXpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)/Resistance to rifampicin (RIF) assay equipment, a portion of the sputum was used for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. The remaining sample 0.5 ml was grown on BHI agar, and the fungal isolates were identified using conventional microbiological techniques; CROM agar media and germ tube formation for yeasts and lactophenol cotton blue staining technique for mycelial fungal differentiation. SPSS version 22 used for data analysis. Results: A total of 530 sputum samples were collected and examined for lower respiratory tract infections. Number of Male participants were slightly less than females and middle-aged to elderly study subjects were dominant. The prevalence of sputum negative for Gene Xpert or fungal culture negative was 318 (60.0%). Gene Xpert-positive samples were 42 (7.9%) and that of fungal infections were 189(36.7%), respectively. Of 42 Xpert positive 23(4.3%) patients were infected with TB only and 19(3.9%) patients were TB co-infected with fungal pathogens. Similarly, 189 (36.7%) sputum samples were culture positive for fungal species in which 170 (32.1%) patients were infected with fungal pathogen only and 19 (3.9%) patients were TB co infected with fungal pathogens. Of the Xpert positive tests, four were rifampicin resistance while two were MDR. Before presentation about 4.1% and 2.3% of the study subjects were treated with anti-TB and antibacterial drugs respectively. Conclusions: Among patients with symptoms of respiratory infections tested for TB and fungal pathogens 42 subjects had tuberculosis of 42 Xpert-positive patients 23(4.3%) were infected with TB only and 19(3.9%) patients were TB co-infected with fungal pathogens. Screening for TB should be conducted concomitantly with fungal pathogens. Key words- Tuberculosis, Co-infection, fungal pathogens, Lower track respiratory infections. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/6512 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_US | |
| dc.publisher | Addis Ababa University | |
| dc.subject | Tuberculosis Co-infection fungal pathogens Lower track respiratory infections | |
| dc.title | Prevalence of Pulmonary Tuberculosis and its co-infection with Fungal Pathogens in Patients with Lower Respiratory Tract Infections Referred to St. Peter’s Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | |
| dc.type | Thesis |