Applied Microbiology

Background: Tijuana is the largest urban metropolis in Northwestern Mexico and home to many people who has migrated from within Mexico and from the United States jails, which arrived to Tijuana and remain in unfavorable socioeconomic conditions. HIV/AIDS prevalence continues to be a public health problem in Mexico. Knowing the advantages of a more specific treatment to HIV/AIDS patients by identifying the subtype of HIV-1, we explored the correlates of HIV/AIDS patients living in Tijuana and identify if

the molecular test for sub-typing HIV-1 is done prior initiating an HIV/AIDS treatment.

 

Material & Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study in a non-randomized sample of 46 HIV/AIDS patients. A structured survey was applied to each patient to analyze their risk conducts and to determine if health centers provide the molecular test to subtype the HIV-1.

 

Results: 46 patients infected with HIV-1 were included in the study, mean age 35 years. The majority (74%) was man, 15% were homosexuals and 4% bisexuals. 50% were single and 40% had been in jail; 30% had Tuberculosis associated; 34% had received previously a blood transfusion; 15% where still consuming intravenously drugs and 20% responded they use the same syringe several times. 20 health professionals perceived the need for the molecular sub-typing of the HIV-1 but there is not a laboratory at the main health centers in Tijuana that can do the test.

 

Conclusions: In order to give a more specific treatment to HIV/AIDS patients and avoid the possible resistance to anti-retrovirals, it

is necessary to perform molecular sub-typing of HIV-1 to treat more effectively our HIV/AIDS patients.