Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and C Co-infection in HIV Infected Patients: A Study in a Teritiary Care Centre From South India

Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus and HIV are three most common viral pathogens of major public health concern. Among the HIV patients HBV and HCV co-infection are more prevalent due to overlapping transmission routes. Co-infection by these viruses in HIV individual's results in increased hepatic complications. Also when treating HIV –hepatitis co-infected patients specific combination of drug regimen must be chosen to prevent drug related hepatotoxicity. For these reasons we undertook this study to provide a baseline data on the prevalence of Hepatitis B and c co-infection in HIV infected individual.

This was a retrospective study which was carried out at the microbiology section of central diagnostic laboratory, VIMS and RC, Bangalore, Karnataka, India for a period of one year from may 2013 to June 2014. The study included 10,000 serum samples received from various clinical departments of the hospital wih history of socio-demographic status which included blood transfusion, unprotected sex, IV drug abuse, organ transplantation and other risk factors. HIV1/2 antibodies were detected in the sera of the patient using 2 different kits (ELISA and rapid test). Samples positive to both ELISA (J. Mitra & Co. New Delhi, India) and Tridot (Diagnostic Enterprises, H.P, India) were considered positive. The samples were tested for the presence of Hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-HCV antibody using ELISA kit.

10,000 serum samples were screened out of which 113 were HIV positive. Among the 113 seropositive cases, 6 were HBV positive and none were HCV positive. This shows a prevalence of 5.3% for HIV/HBV co-infection. There is no co-infection of HIV and HCV.

We conclude that HIV/HBV co-infection is common due to shared routes of transmission in patients visiting the Tertiary care centre. HIV/HCV co-infection was not found.