Background: Several parasites are responsible for life threatening infections in immunocompromised patients including those with chronic renal diseases. Determination of enteroparasitosis prevalence in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) experiencing hemodialysis (HD) showed elevated rates of infection, primarily by protozoa.
Objectives: To investigate the common intestinal parasites among patients with ESRD undergoing HD in Benha University Hospital.
Subjects and Methods: This case-control research was performed on 57 patients subjected to HD and 60 apparently healthy people as control group with no history of kidney disorders or other immunosuppressive conditions in the control group. Age of participants ranged from 20-70 years in both groups. Three consecutive fresh fecal samples from all participants were obtained after completion of the questionnaire and examined macroscopically and microscopically to identify various stages of common pathogenic intestinal parasites using iodine and modified Ziehl-Neelsen stains to detect protozoa.
Results: The total rate of parasite infection was 68.4% and 48.3% in ESRD patients and control group, respectively. The discrepancies between the two groups were statistically significant. E. histolytica/E. dispar was the commonest parasite compared to other parasites in the two groups.
Conclusion: In ESRD patients, a high detection rate of intestinal parasites was reported which can lead to severe complications in these patients being immunocompromised individuals. Hence, stool examination should also be integrated into the standard clinical care of these patients. |
