EFFECT OF COTRIMOXAZOLE PROPHYLAXIS IN HIV-1 INFECTED PATIENTS ATTENDING JOS UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL

Abstract

Many chemo prophylactic approaches to manage or prevent opportunistic infections using many drugs have been reported. Based on the reported cases of chemo prophylactic approaches to manage opportunistic infections, the effect of Cotrimoxazole on HIV patients was studied. Seventy two patients with CD4+ cell counts ≤ 350cells/µl were recruited for the study. Each patient received cotrimoxazole two single strength tablets (2 x 480mg) three times a week. The patients were followed for a period of six months during which time data was collected at month 1, month 3 and month 6. The results showed that dermatological, gastrointestinal and respiratory as well as other bacterial related infections were considerably reduced in these patients during the six month period of the study. Being a drug that is cheap, readily available and not requiring any special storage and handling conditions, cotrimoxazole could be considered as a good prophylactic agent in the management of HIV/AIDS disease in resource limited settings such as ours.