A systematic review and correlation of risk factors associated with the occurrence of histoplasmosis in Asian individuals with AIDS

• Main Authors: Casingal, Michaela Bucasas, Galang, Christian Jeofferson Layag, Villareal, Marie Yvette Bustamante
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2023
• Subjects: Histoplasmosis; AIDS (Disease)—Patients; Biology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdb_bio/58; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etdb_bio/article/1057/viewcontent/2023_Galang_Casingal_Villaral_A_systematic_review_and_correlation_of_risk_factors_Full_text.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by the dimorphic fungi, Histoplasma capsulatum, and is most pathogenic to immunocompromised individuals. This infection may be hyperendemic or endemic in some regions of Asia and is most associated with AIDS patients. The primary issue in this research study is the lack of information about the co-infection of histoplasmosis with AIDS individuals in Asia. Through a systematic review, the researchers of this study tabulated corresponding risk factors and diagnostic characteristics between histoplasmosis with AIDS in immunocompromised patients of Asian ethnicity. Out of the 2,682 articles, only 18 were used for the final synthesizing and analysis due to the inclusion-exclusion criteria, and the results showed that the most common cases are found in Thai and Indian patients that are male and middle-aged. The most common risk factors indicated were age, sex, CD4+ cell count, behavioral, situational, and occupational. The modes of identification presented that the fine needle aspiration cytology for diagnosing histoplasmosis is the most frequently used diagnostic tool in Asia. Infections in the bone marrow, GI tract, adrenal gland, and skin were observed to be the most common areas of histoplasmosis in AIDS patients. The induction therapy of liposomal amphotericin B followed by maintenance therapy of itraconazole was the most recommended treatment for AIDS patients with histoplasmosis infection. Finally, statistical analyses were performed to determine the correlation and association of the risk factors (age, sex, CD4+ cell count, behavioral, situational, and occupational with the acquisition of histoplasmosis). No significant correlation, association, and difference between means were determined. Keywords: Histoplasmosis, Histoplasma capsulatum, AIDS, immunocompromised, Asia, co-infection, occurrence, systematic review, statistical analyses, risk factors