High prevalence of hepatitis C virus but not HIV co-infection among patients with tuberculosis in Georgia

• Published in: The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 396 - 401
• Main Authors: Richards, D C, Mikiashvili, T, Parris, J J, Kourbatova, E V, Wilson, J C E, Shubladze, N, Tsertvadze, T, Khechinashvili, G, del Rio, C, Blumberg, H M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris, France IUATLD 01-04-2006
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Female; Georgia (Republic) - epidemiology; Hepacivirus - immunology; Hepatitis C - complications; Hepatitis C - epidemiology; Hepatitis C - virology; Hepatitis C Antibodies - immunology; Hepatitis C virus; Hepatitis C Virus (hcv); HIV; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - epidemiology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Republic Of Georgia; Retrospective Studies; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis - complications; Tuberculosis - epidemiology; Georgia (Republic); Georgia
• ISSN: 1027-3719

SETTING: Tuberculosis (TB) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have emerged as major public health problems in former Soviet republics.OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HCV co-infection among patients with TB
in Georgia, a cross-sectional study was carried out at hospitals in four Georgian cities.RESULTS: Of 272 hospitalized patients with TB, 61 (22%) were found to be HCV-seropositive and three (1%) were HIV-seropositive. The median age of those with TB was 35 years (range 18-74 years);
74% were male. In multivariate analysis, risk factors for HCV co-infection included previous incarceration (OR 4.6, 95%CI 1.9-10.8), history of receiving a tattoo (OR 2.6, 95%CI 1.2-5.7), previous diagnosis of a sexually transmitted infection (OR 7.2, 95%CI 1.4-37.8), and
age 26-45 years (OR 2.1, 95%CI 1.0-4.6).CONCLUSION: HCV co-infection was common among hospitalized patients with TB in Georgia. Incarceration and receiving a tattoo, a common practice among inmates in Georgian and former Soviet correctional facilities, were important independent
risk factors associated with HCV infection among those with TB. Further studies are needed to assess the impact of the high prevalence of HCV co-infection on treatment outcomes, including tolerability and risk of anti-tuberculosis drug induced hepatotoxicity.