Abstract

ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF OPPORTUNISTIC BACTERIAL AND FUNGAL PATHOGENS FROM HOSPITALIZED HIV/AIDS PATIENTS OF NAMAKKAL DISTRICT IN TAMIL NADU

Thangaraj Francis Xavier*, Moorthy Kannan and Anthonysamy Auxilia

ABSTRACT

Human Immuno deficiency Viruses are the initial causative agents in AIDS, but most of the morbidity in AIDS cases result from opportunistic infections, identification of such pathogen is very important for clinicians and health planners to tackle the AIDS epidemic in more effective manner. The present study describes the isolation and characterization of OPs from 75 HIV seropositive patients presented to a ART Center of Government Hospital and St. Savariour Hospital in Namakkal District of Tamil Nadu. Blood serum, urine, sputum and oral swabs were collected and processed. A total of 159 isolates were isolated from 75 HIV seropositive patients. Among 159 isolates following 14 opportunistic bacterial and fungal pathogens were detected, Klebsiella pneumoniae (22%), Staphylococcus hominis (14.46%), Klebsiella oxytoca (11.32%), Escherichia coli (10.7%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.66%), Proteus mirabilis (4.4%), Salmonella typhi (0.63%), Serratia marcescens (3.14%), Staphylococcus aureus(2.51%), Enterococcus faecalis(2.51%), Candida albicans (12.57%), Candida tropicalis (5%), Candida glabrata (3.14%) and Candida dubliniensis (1.88%). Out of all pathogens isolated bacterial isolates constituted 77.36% and fungal pathogens isolates 22.64%.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Opportunistic Pathogens, Candida albicans, Namakkal District.