title: Pneumocyctis pneumonia and pulmonary tuberculosis among HIV-infected patients at Muhimbili National Hospital, Tanzania.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Respiratory infections such as pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and pneumonia are significant causes of morbidity and mortality in HIV infection. Recent studies have shown an increase in Pneumocystis jerovecii pneumonia (PCP) in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study determines the prevalence of PCP and other pulmonary infections among HIV patients at HIV clinics in Tanzania.
  
  
  METHODS
  HIV infected patients with cough were enrolled between May and November 2006. Sputum induction was done and examined for PCP using Toluidine blue stain and Polymerase chain reaction. Ziehl-Neelsen stain was also done for PTB.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine of the 125 (7.2%) had smear positive PTB. PCP was diagnosed in 10.4% (13/125) by Toluidine blue, while PCR was positive in 3.6% (3/88). Low CD4+ cell counts were associated with increased risk to both PCP and PTB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCP is still low in Tanzania. PTB remains the major respiratory problem in HIV patients with cough. Toluidine blue staining is not reliable for PCP diagnosis
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. jmwita@gmail.com
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mwita
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mugusi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pallangyo
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003371:Cough / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D045363:Pneumocystis carinii / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014048:Tolonium Chloride; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D014048:Tolonium Chloride