Problems of HIV positive tuberculosis patients' health care in Latvia

The number of patients with HIV/TB alliance has increased recently. There were 1055 TB/HIV cases registered in European Union (6% out of 17 650 TB cases tested for HIV) in 2010, among them 71 in Latvia (9.5% out of all TB cases in 2010, in comparison with 0.5% in 2000). The treatment for TB/HIV cases is provided in Latvia according to WHO recommendations, including DOTS strategy. However the TB treatment results for HIV positive cases are concerning due to increasing resistance to HIV/AIDS drugs and to TB drugs.