Detection of HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis among University Students in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Assessment of HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is crucial to detect HIV and/or Mycobacterium tuberculosis coinfection and the strategy for infection management and treatment. This study assessed the proportion of students with HIV, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and HIV/Mycobacterium tuberculosis coinfection. Two hundred and thirty-five university students in Port Harcourt, Nigeria were recruited, ages 16 - 39 years. Samples of blood were collected and processed using standard laboratory procedures. All the students were screened for antibodies to HIV using 2 rapid screening strips and a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based kit for determination of HIV-1/2/P24/O. The presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was done using TB rapid kits and a commercially available ELISA-based kit. The results showed that 3.4% of the students were positive for HIV, 2.1% for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and none for HIV/Mycobacterium tuberculosis coinfection. The age-specific infection rate showed a higher HIV infection rate in the age group 16-24 years (4.7%) than [&ge;]25 years (2.8%). While higher Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection rate occurred in the age group [&ge;]25 years (2.8%) than in <25 years (2.3%). The gender-specific infection rate showed that females had a higher infection rate (HIV, 4.7% and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, 2.3%) than males (HIV, 2.6% and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, 1.7%). Age and sex were the main correlates (P<0.05) of HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This study further confirmed the presence of HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections among University students. These findings suggest the need for regular screening of University students for HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.