Antigenic Screening for Helicobacter pylori in Stool of Patients Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus from a Tertiary Care Hospital

Bineeta Kashyap, Kavita Gupta,

Abstract

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients frequently have opportunistic gastrointestinal presentation. Co-morbidity of Helicobacter pylori infection in HIV patients is not well defined. The aim of the study is to evaluate, whether antigenic screening of stool is a reliable test to identify new Helicobacter pylori infections in HIV infected population. Materials and Methods: Stool samples from 50 HIV reactive subjects (cases) 16 years-65 years age group presenting with diarrhea were screened for the presence of H. pylori antigen along with equal number of HIV nonreactive (control) subjects presenting with diarrhea by ELISA. Results: H. pylori antigen was detected in 10% of cases while none of the controls was found to be positive for the presence of H. pylori antigen (p<0.05). No significant correlation was found between risk of acquisition of infection and age or sex. Conclusion: More emphasis should be given on the screening of H. pylori infection in immunocompromised population to clearly define the management protocol in such patients.