treatment of TB in HIV positive patients

Last reviewed 01/2018

The standard treatment with quadruple therapy is effective.

Side-effects are more common in patients infected with HIV.

Incidence of bacterial pneumonia in HIV positive TB patients:

  • rates of bacterial pneumonia are several times higher among HIV positive adults than in the general community
  • in 1999 a randomised placebo controlled clinical trial in HIV positive patients with sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Côte d'Ivoire found that co-trimoxazole prophylaxis significantly reduced mortality and morbidity
  • a more recent study (1) found also found that prophylaxis with co-trimoxazole reduces mortality in HIV infected adults with pulmonary tuberculosis. Co-trimoxazole was generally safe and well tolerated

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