The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of
hepatitis B and
hepatitis C coinfections in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) -infected adults at an HIV center in Gaborone, Botswana. A retrospective review was performed of charts of currently active HIV-infected adult patients in the Family Model Clinic (FMC) of the Botswana-Baylor Children's Clinical Center of Excellence (BCOE) in Gaborone, Botswana, for the results of serum
hepatitis B surface antigen (
HBsAg) and antihepatitis C
IgG tests performed between January 1, 2005 and December 15, 2009. Of 308 active FMC patients, 266 underwent
HBsAg serology testing within the period of study. The
HBsAg coinfection prevalence was 5.3% (14/266); 2 of 252 patients had at least one positive antihepatitis C
IgG serology, a 0.8% prevalence.
Hepatitis B coinfection is relatively common in HIV-infected adults at our center in Botswana, whereas
hepatitis C coinfection is rare. In this setting, where the diagnosis of
hepatitis B coinfection with HIV has implications for choice of first-line antiretroviral
therapy and prevention of perinatal
hepatitis B transmission, broader sampling to establish the true population prevalence of
hepatitis B coinfection and the desirability of adding screening to HIV management should be considered. These findings provide little justification for adding
hepatitis C coinfection screening to the management of
HIV infection in Botswana.