Seroprevalence of HIV Markers among Patients Attending to Shebin El- Kom Teaching Hospital

Elham T. Awwad, Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Shebin El Kom Teaching Hospital, Menoufia, EgyptFollow
Rasha G Mostafa, Assistant professor of medical microbiology and immunology, Faculty of medicine Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt.
Asmaa M Soliman, Fellow of Biochemistery, National Nutrition Institute, Cairo, Egypt
Abdelghany Aish, Fellow of hepatogastroentrology and Infectious Diseases, Shebin El Kom Teaching Hospital, Menoufia, Egypt
Mariam A. Fouad, Fellow of Clinical Pathology, Shebin El Kom Teaching Hospital, Menoufia, Egypt.

Article Type

Original Study

Subject Area

Digestive System, Liver and Infectious Diseases

Abstract

Objectives: to determine the prevalence of HIV infections and assess the accuracy of various testing methods among patients at Shibin El Kom teaching hospital.

Background: HIV/AIDS is a global public health challenge, with increasing prevalence in developing countries like Egypt. Stigma and limited detection methods have hindered the accurate assessment of HIV cases. Early detection is critical for effective prevention and treatment.

Methods:

A retrospective study was conducted from May 2006 to December 2022, involving 71,353 individuals who underwent routine preoperative and preadmission investigations. Blood samples were collected and tested using an immunochromatographic rapid test, ELISA, chemiluminescence, and Western blot. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS Version 18.0.

Results:

Among the tested samples, 0.058% were found to be HIV positive, with a majority of cases among males (71.4%). Demographic data revealed that most HIV-positive individuals were unmarried (57.1%), urban residents (66.6%), and employed in the private sector (80.9%). Risk factors associated with false-positive results included hormonal therapy, erythropoietin intake, thyroid therapy, renal failure (on dialysis), and COVID-19. Western blot confirmation showed that 42 individuals were truly HIV positive, while 138 were false positives.

Conclusion:

The study highlights the challenges of accurate HIV detection, with a significant number of false-positive cases. This underscores the need for improved testing methods and public health awareness. Accurate HIV diagnosis is crucial for early intervention and prevention efforts, particularly among populations with a higher risk of infection.

IRB Number

HSH00032

Keywords

HIV/AIDS, Prevalence, Diagnosis, False-positive and Public health

Recommended Citation

Awwad, Elham T.; Mostafa, Rasha G; Soliman, Asmaa M; Aish, Abdelghany; and Fouad, Mariam A. (2024) "Seroprevalence of HIV Markers among Patients Attending to Shebin El- Kom Teaching Hospital," Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research: Vol. 8: Iss. 1, Article 4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59299/2537-0928.1403