Prevalence and Factors Associated with Cryptococcosis among Human Immunodeficiency Virus‑Infected Patients of a Tertiary Hospital in Northwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Cryptococcosis is an important opportunistic infection and major contributor to mortality in human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients. There have been increasing reports of varied prevalence for cryptococcosis among HIV patients in Nigeria. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with risk of cryptococcosis among HIV/AIDS patients from Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross‑sectional study at HIV clinic of UDUTH, Sokoto, Nigeria, was conducted. The participants were HIV positive enrolled by systematic random sampling. Information on sociodemographics and clinical features of the participants was recorded. Blood was collected to determine the CD4 count/presence of cryptococcosis among the participants. Their CD4 counts were determined, and the presence of cryptococcal antigen was detected in the blood sample using IMMY CrAg LFA (cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assay test kit). Statistical analysis using Epi Info version 7.2/SPSS version 20.0 was done. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were done. Results: Of 326 HIV-positive patients recruited, 36 of them were positive to cryptococcal antigen (prevalence of 11%). The highest proportion of patients positive to cryptococcosis (13 [36.1%) had CD4 values <50 cells/µL. Weight loss was the most common presenting symptom (11 [30.6%]) among those who were Cryptococcus positive. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that cryptococcosis is a burden among HIV patient in Sokoto, and its occurrence is associated with decreasing levels of CD4.