Viral hepatitis B and hepatitis c co-infections of hiv-1 infected patients in Kenya

Background: Co-infections with hepatitis B and hepatitis C (HBV/HCV) viruses continue to be of significant concern among HIV-1 patients. In resource limited settings like Kenya where HIV-1 still remains endemic, infections with diverse viral genotypes complicates prognosis and treatment outcomes. Objective: To determine the prevalence and co-prevalence of HCV and HBV among HIV-1 infected antiretroviral-naïve and experienced subjects from selected facilities in Kenya. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting: Center for Research in Therapeutic Sciences laboratory at Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya Subjects: HIV infected patients attending the comprehensive care clinic from six County hospitals in Kenya. Results: Overall, 32 of the 140 HIV infected patients were also infected with either HBV (n=24, 17.1 %) or HCV (n=8, 5.7 %). Five of the 24 HBV positive and six of the 8 HCV positive patients were ART experienced, with the rest in these positive categories being ART naïve. All the HBV DNA PCR positive patients were ART experienced. Only 4/24 HIV/HBV+ patients were also co-infected with HCV. Confirmatory genetic testing of the 24 HBV co-infected patients showed that seven were positive by PCR. Genotyping of the seven PCR positive samples revealed 4 of these isolates to be HBV genotype A Conclusions: HBV and HCV coinfection among HIV infected patients is higher than previously reported, with majority of ART experienced still at an increased risk for co-infection with both viruses.