prevalence and associated risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections among patients visiting a referral hospital in tehran province, iran

Background: intestinal parasitic infections (ipis) are still considered a public health problem of mankind, particularly in immunocompromised patients. we aimed to determine the prevalence of ipis with an emphasis on immunocompromised patients in a referral hospital in tehran province, iran.methods: in this cross-sectional study, 442 fecal specimens were collected randomly from patients, referred to baqiyatallah hospital in tehran province, iran from may to september 2020. the collected specimens were examined using wet-mount, trichrome and modified ziehl-neelsen staining, formalin-ether concentration, and agar plate culture.results: the prevalence of ipis was found 17.0% (95% ci: 13.6-20.8%). the prevalence of protozoan parasites (16.3%; 95% ci: 13.0-20.1%) was significantly higher than helminthic parasites (0.7%; 95% ci: 0.1-2.0%). blastocystis spp., giardia lamblia, and entamoeba coli were the most common intestinal protozoan with a prevalence of 12.2%, 1.6%, and 1.4%, respectively. e. histolytica/e. dispar/e.  moshkovskii, iodamoeba bütschlii, cryptosporidium spp., chilomastix mesnili as protozoan species and hymenolepis nana, dicrocoelium dendriticum, and ascaris lumbricoides as helminthic species were the other detected parasites. multiple logistic regression revealed a significant association of ipis infections with stool consistency and the status of immune system.conclusion: the prevalence of ipis among the patients who are immunocompromised was significantly higher than immunocompetent patients (p< 0.05). periodic stool examinations for screening of ipis should be included as a part of routine medical check-up in these patients.