title: Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in a HIV-positive patient.
abstract: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection remains a global public health challenge. We report a 40 year old African American male who is a known HIV-positive patient, non-compliant with his antiretrovirals and developed pulmonary tuberculosis. His chief complaints were chronic cough, fever, night sweats and undocumented weight loss. He had a prior positive T-SPOT-TB test; however, chest radiograph and sputum smear examination revealed normal results. PCR-based GeneXPERT MTB/RIF assay was ordered and confirmed MTB infection. The sputum cultures grew MTB and sensitivities showed susceptibility to all primary anti-tuberculosis medications. A delay in diagnosis and initiation of MTB therapy, in the setting of HIV or AIDS, may result in rapid disease progression and worse clinical outcome.
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
authors.forename: Maria Theresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Montales
authors.affiliation: Arkansas Department of Health, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
authors.forename: Alexandria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beebe
authors.affiliation: GIM Foundation, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaudhury
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States; Arkansas Department of Health, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.
authors.forename: Naveen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patil
keywords: Acid fast bacilli; Coinfection; GeneXpert; HIV; Mycobacterium tuberculosis