Frequency and Correlates of Co-Infection Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B with HIV

Introduction: Two of the most critical co-infection associated in patients with HIV is hepatitis C and hepatitis B. Thus considering the adverse effects of these co-infections and the paucity of research in this area, this study was conducted to describe the frequency of co-infection hepatitis B and hepatitis C in patients with HIV and the related factors. Methods: Three hundred and sixty five infected patients from the voluntary counselling and testing center of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran participated in this cross sectional study. The individuals who co-infected with hepatitis B, C and also HIV were selected. Then the information like demographic factors, routes of transmission, history of vaccination, stage of disease and HBs Ab were extracted from their records. Results: Our results showed that 26.3% of patients were co-infected with HIV / HBV/ HCV. One hundred and eighty eight infected patients (51.5%) were between 21 to 40 years. Out of all co-infected patients 34.9% were infected through drug injection. Moreover 30.1% of them were in incubation stage of disease. Furthermore, 22.3% of patients with co-infection had the positive history of Hepatitis B vaccination and 30.7% of all co-infected participants revealed HBs Ab positive. Conclusion: We recommend that HIV positive patients should inject hepatitis B vaccine. Also, it is emphasized to take Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) in patients suffering from co-infection with HIV, HBV and HCV.