Prevalence of Nocardiosis in Sputum of HIV Positive/AIDS Patients in a Tertiary Health Institution in North Central Nigeria

Aim: This study was designed to determine the prevalence of Nocardia species in the sputum of HIV/AIDS patients attending Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) clinic at a tertiary health institution in the North central part of Nigeria.

Study Design: This study was an analytical cross-sectional laboratory based research.

Place and Duration of Study: University of Ilorin teaching hospital (UITH), Ilorin. Nigeria between August 2012 and February 2013.

Method: Two hundred and forty eight (248) patients were recruited for this study and had their sputum collected in duplicates for investigation. The samples were cultured on Buffered Charcoal Yeast Extract (BCYE) medium. Gram and Auramine Rhodamine staining were carried out on the isolates respectively for microscopy.

Result: Only one (1) patient tested positive to Nocardia species giving a prevalence rate of 0.4%.

Conclusion: This study gives an indication that Pulmonary Nocardiosis may be found within UITH among HIV patients.