CO-INFECTION IN PYREXIA OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN AMONG PATIENTS ADMITTED AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Background: Pyrexia of unknown origin has become a major problem in developing countries including India. In tropical region during monsoon and post-monsoon period there are high chances of dual infection and cross reactivity. The objective of the present study was to find incidence of co-infection among patients with Pyrexia of unknown origin.

Methods: This was a hospital based prospective study conducted over a period of One year (January to December) in 2018 in the department of microbiology. A total of 80 PUO cases were collected from different wards of King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, UP, India. Serological methods were applied for diagnosis of infection.

Results: In this study a total of 80 pyrexia cases were studied, of those 80 pyrexia cases, 27(33.75%) of pyrexia cases were detected due to infection of which co infection contributed to 7/80(8.75%) and single infection were detected in 20(25%). The most common co-infection was Leptospirosis and Scrub typhus reported in 3 patients while Leptospirosis and Malaria was observed in one patient.

Conclusion: This study showed presence of dual infection as a cause of PUO. Serology-based investigations played a vital role in establishing diagnosis.