Providing HIV care for co-infected tuberculosis patients: a perspective from sub-Saharan Africa [State of the art series. Tuberculosis. Edited by I. D. Rusen. Number 3 in the series]

• Published in: The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 6 - 16
• Main Authors: HARRIES, A. D, ZACHARIAH, R, LAWN, S. D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris, France IUATLD 01.01.2009; International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
• Subjects: Africa; Africa South of the Sahara; Anti-Infective Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Infective Agents - adverse effects; Anti-Retroviral Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Retroviral Agents - adverse effects; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Comorbidity; Cotrimoxazole; Counseling; Disease Management; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Synergism; HIV; HIV Infections - epidemiology; Human bacterial diseases; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Mycobacterium; Pneumology; Prevention and actions; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination - administration & dosage; Tuberculosis - epidemiology; Tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterial infections; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Sub-Saharan Africa; Africa; Africa South of the Sahara; Art; Mixed infection; Trimethoprim; Mycobacterial infection; Antifolate; Perspective; Sulfamethoxazole; Cotrimoxazole; Antiinfectious; Pneumology; Human; Immunopathology; Drug combination; Africa; Retroviridae; Patient; AIDS; Immune deficiency; Lentivirus; Care; TB; Infection; Virus; Tuberculosis; HIV; Sulfonamides; Viral disease; Bacteriosis; Pyrimidine derivatives; Human immunodeficiency virus; Antibacterial agent
• ISSN: 1027-3719; 1815-7920

Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and tuberculosis (TB) are overlapping epidemics that cause an immense burden of disease in sub-Saharan Africa. This region is home to the majority of the world's co-infected patents, who have higher TB case fatality and recurrence rates than patients with TB alone. A World Health Organization interim policy has been developed to reduce the joint burden of TB-HIV disease, an important component of which is provision of HIV care to co-infected patients. This review focuses on HIV testing of TB patients and, for those who are HIV-positive, the administration of adjunctive cotrimoxazole preventive treatment (CPT) and antiretroviral treatment (ART). HIV testing has moved from a voluntary, client-initiated intervention to one that is provider-initiated and a routine part of the diagnostic work-up. The efficacy and safety of CPT in HIV-infected patients is now well established, and this is an essential part of the package of HIV care. ART scale-up in Africa can substantially improve outcomes in co-infected patients. However, the clinical and programmatic challenges of combining ART with anti-tuberculosis treatment need to be resolved to realise the full potential of this benefit. These include the optimal time to start ART, how best to combine rifampicin-containing regimens with first-line and second-line ART regimens, management of immune reconstitution disease, the role of isoniazid preventive treatment with ART after TB treatment completion, and where and how to provide combined treatment to best suit the patient. Clinical and operational studies in the next few years should help to resolve some of these issues.