AETIOLOGY OF DIARRHOEA AMONG PERSONS WITH HIV AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS IN RURAL UGANDA: A COMMUNITY-BASED STUDY

Objectives: To identify pathogens associated with diarrhoea in HIV-infected persons and their HIV-uninfected family members. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Rural community in eastern Uganda. Subjects: Eight hundred and seventy nine HIV-infected adults (74 % females and median age 35 years (IQR, 29-41) and 2771 HIV-uninfected family members (51 % females and median age 11 years (IQR 6-16) were included. Main outcome measures: Using microscopy and culture, stools were tested for parasites, bacteria and bacterial-antimicrobial-susceptibility. Logistic regression models, adjusting for age, CD4 cells, season, household clustering and use of safe-water system were used for relationships between pathogens, diarrhoea and HIV. Results: Persons with HIV had similar pathogens in diarrhoeal (69%) and non-diarrhoeal stools (57%). Most diarrhoea was not associated with identifiable aetiology; the population attributable risk of diarrhoea for known diarrhoea pathogens was 32%