Journal of the Indian Medical Association
-
Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is found to increase the occurrence of drug resistant tuberculosis. The data for HIV and multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) coinfection is scarce in India. The study aims to find out the prevalence of MDR-TB and extensively drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) among chronic TB patients and to identify their trend with HIV coinfection over time. ⋯ Prevalence of HIV coinfection with MDR-TB was found to be high among chronic TB patients. It would be appropriate to screen all the chronic TB patients for HIV coinfection apart from their sputa examined for drug resistant tuberculosis, especially in HIV high prevalent states. Indiscriminate use of fluoroquinolone should be stopped.