Prevalence and risk factors of asymptomatic bacteriuria among children living with HIV in Lagos, Nigeria

Introduction: HIV/AIDS has gradually become a chronic disorder following the success of combination chemotherapy. As a result of the persisting immune deficiency, certain risk factors predispose affected individuals to infections. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and identify risk factors of asymptomatic bacteriuria among HIV infected children. Methods: this was a case control study conducted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital from July 2010 to June 2011. Eighty-five children living with HIV were consecutively selected from the HIV clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and compared with 85 age and sex matched HIV negative controls for the occurrence of asymptomatic bacteriuria. Mid-stream urine samples were obtained from the participants and the samples were analyzed for microscopy, culture and sensitivity. Demographic and clinical data was obtained from the caregivers and clinical notes respectively. Data were analyzed utilizing SPSS version 17. Results: the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria was 24.7% among children living with HIV and 8.2% among un-infected children (p value 0.004). The stage of the disease, CD4 count, sex as well as age were risk factors for asymptomatic bacteriuria among children living with HIV. Conclusion: asymptomatic bacteriuria is a prevalent problem among children living with HIV infection and urinary screening should be routine in the work up of febrile children living with HIV.