Patterns Of Fungal Infections in Sputum of HIV Infected Patients with Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Relation to CD4+ Lymphatic Counts in Central Medical Centre in Lagos, Nigeria

Authors

  • Colman Sunday Apagu Microbiology Unit, Central Drug Control Laboratory, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Yaba, Lagos. Nigeria
  • Niemogha Mary-Theresa Department of Medical Laboratory Science, college of Medicine, University of Lagos. Nigeria
  • Toyosi Yekeen Raheem National TB Ref. Laboratories, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research Yaba, Lagos. Nigeria
  • Bikomo Wene Microbiology Unit, Central Drug Control Laboratory, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Yaba, Lagos. Nigeria
  • Gbajabi-amila Titi Clinical Sciences Department, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
  • Peters Folake Department of Microbiology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba. Lagos. Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314.4.8

Abstract

Fungal infections are serious Public Health Issues, particularly in People Living with HIV-AIDS. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) causes reduction of Clusters of (CD4) cells resulting to the disease syndrome. People Living with HIV (PLWH) are prone to respiratory infections, especially with mycoses and tuberculosis. Fungal infections cause respiratory tract diseases and other derangement, which include spread of necrosis, neurological disorder, depressed immune system leading to increased morbidity and mortality in PLWH. To detect the types of fungi in HIV positive patients with lower respiratory tract infections. To correlate the types of fungi with the CD4 count in the HIV positive patients. In a cross sectional study where 250 (200 PLWH and 50 HIV negative) participants attending clinic in Nigerian Institute of Medical Research Yaba, Lagos (NIMR). Expectorated sputum were collected in sterile cups and cultured in SDA, incubated at 25-27o C. Identifications were done using Standard Laboratory Techniques. The CD4 count was done using The Standard Laboratory Techniques. Of the 200 PLWH, 163(81.5%) yielded fungi from their sputum, 19 of 50 (38.00%) HIV negative control had fungal infection (P=0.0001). The 163 isolated fungi from PLWA showed C. albicans (28.15%), A. niger (25.15%), A. fumigatus (13.50%), other Candida spp. (15.34%), A. flavus (7.36%), Penicillium spp. (8.60%), while Geotrichum spp., Mucor spp. and Cladosporum spp. had (0.61%) each. For HIV negative participants 2 types of fungi were isolated. Participants with CD4+ < 100/ul had (31.90%) of the fungi and those with CD4 cells > 400/ul had (12.27%) of the total fungal growth with P=0.0001.This study has shown that the isolated fungi C albicans, Aspergillus spp, Pennicillium spp. Geotrichum, Cladosporum sp, the presence of Candida albicans in females and the relatively low CD4 count are indications for laboratory Mycological investigations for proper patient management.

KEYWORDS: Fungi, HIV, infection, isolation and sputum.

 

 

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Published

2026-06-20

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 4 (2026): May 2026

Section

Original Articles

License

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