Scope and frequency of enteric bacterial pathogens isolated from HIV/AIDS patients and their household drinking water in Limpopo Province

Abstract

Although HIV/AIDS and water-borne infections, exemplified by diarrhoea, are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries, their association has received only cursory attention. This study was therefore conducted to ascertain the scope and frequency of potential enteric bacterial pathogens isolated from stool samples of HIV-positive and-negative indi viduals with and without diarrhoea as well as household drinking water of the study groups in rural communities in Limpopo Province. A prospective study involving 330 HIV-positive individuals (200 with diarrhoea and 130 without diarrhoea) and 160 HIV-negative patients, (80 with diarrhoea and 80 without) was undertaken from August 2005 to January 2006. Stool and drinking water samples were analyzed for the presence of enteric bacterial pathogens using standard microbiological methods. Of the 330 HIV-positive individuals, 126 (38%) and 206 (62%) were males and females respectively. HIV prevalence was mostly common in the age group 21to 30 years.

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