An audit of HIV testing and HIV serostatus in tuberculosis patients, Blantyre, Malawi.
METHODS
Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.


OBJECTIVE
An audit of voluntary HIV testing, with pre- and post-test counselling, of adult patients diagnosed with all types of tuberculosis.


METHODS
A review of case files of adult patients with tuberculosis registered with the District Tuberculosis Officer, Blantyre, between April 1993 and March 1994.


RESULTS
There were 1095 tuberculosis patients, mean age 32 years, of whom 665 (60.7%) had HIV-serological testing. 496 patients (74.6% of those tested) were HIV seropositive. 73% of patients who were hospitalized for the initial intensive phase of treatment were HIV-tested compared with 37% of patients who received ambulatory chemotherapy (P < 0.001). In patients HIV-tested, 5 did not wish to know their results and post-test counselling was done in 516 (78%). 23 patients refused HIV testing. 362 (84%) patients not HIV-tested never received pre-test counselling. Of 664 patients who received 2SRHZ/6HT(E) in hospital, 84 (12.6%) patients died and 8 (1.2%) absconded. The abscondee rate was unrelated to HIV serostatus.


CONCLUSIONS
A large proportion of tuberculosis patients who receive supervised treatment in hospital accept confidential HIV testing and the abscondee rate is low. The clinical management of patients is improved.
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy