P6‐14: Impact of Nationwide Lockdown Due to COVID 19 on Incidence of Sputum Positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Rural India

infection i.e., COVID-19. Tuberculosis, SARS-COV-2 coinfection, causing double burden to the lung is an emerging syndemic. This survey assessed the characteristics, progression and outcome of co-infected patients. Methods: Data were gathered from the records of the patients, admitted to the National Hospital for Respiratory Disease (NHRD) Sri Lanka, the only center in the country managing co-infected patients from December, 2020 to May, 2020. Results and Conclusion: There were 65 patients (Male-48: Female-17) with a median age of 55 years, who were coinfected. The majority (56.9%) had smear-positive pulmonary-tuberculosis. Among extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients had various organ involvements noted including renal and nervous system. 80% of patients were newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients while 20% had reinfection or reactivation with one Multi Drug Resistant tuberculosis patient. Chest X-Ray features of COVID-19 pneumonia were evident in 12.3% of the cases. 10.7% were hypoxemic on admission. During the course of illness, 27.6% required supplementary oxygen and 4.6% patients needed noninvasive ventilatory support. 41.5% needed anticoagulation during hospital stay. Dexamethasone or prednisolone needed in 32.3% of cases. Tocilizumab was not given to any patient. There were 11 (16.9%) deaths due to severe pneumonia, a higher mortality than either infection alone. Our findings reiterate the importance of paying due attention to this emerging syndemic.