Pulmonary mycoses (P. mycoses) are a group of fungal infections commonly occurring as opportunistic infections (OIs) among individuals who are immune suppressed more especially those with human Immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) and others who have been on antibiotics for a long time, though during routine practice are misdiagnosed for Tuberculosis (TB) leading to mismanagement with associated toxicities and drug resistance among the patients. This study was carried out at Kirinya Prisons Complex found in Jinja district with the major aim of determining the prevalence and factors associated with pulmonary mycoses among PLWHIV. Two sputum samples were collected from 127 participants. The samples were processed systematically by; KOH mount, ZN staining and culturing on SDA microscopy with Lactophenol cotton blue staining. The cultures were identified using the morphological characteristics and stained slides read by microscopy. Amongst the clients recruited for the study, 31/127 (24.41%, 95% CI= 17.92-33.67) were found to have pulmonary mycoses. Out of the 31 patients who were found to have pulmonary mycoses, 15 (27.78%) were females while 16 (21.92%) were males. Still we found that, 3 (2.36%) clients had TB and 1 (3.23%) had a co-infection with P. mycosis. Of the 31 fungal organisms, majority were Candida species, 11 (35.48%, 95% CI =21.1-56.31), followed by C. neoformans 8 (25.81%, 95% CI=11.46-43.4), Aspergillus species 6 (19.35%, 95% CI=7.21-36.44), and Zygomycetes 6 (19.35%, 95% CI=7.21-36.44). Independently the factors; weight loss, chest pain and night sweats were not associated with P. mycoses (OR= 1.11, 1.15 and 2.51; p. Values= 0.82, 0.82 and 0.11 respectively). Also P. mycoses presented similarly in both acute (≤2 weeks) and chronic (>2weeks) coughs. A decline CD4 cell count ≤ 250 was a risk factor associated with the development of P. mycoses (OR = 9.7, p. Value < 0.001) and duration of stay in Prison was not associated with the development of P. mycoses (OR = 1.44, p. Value = 0.38). In conclusion, the overall prevalence of pulmonary mycoses in KPC was relatively high (24.41%). Candida species were the most prevalent followed by C. neoformans, Aspergillus species and Zygomycetes. Weight loss, chest pain and night sweats were not associated with P. mycoses. A decline CD4 cell count ≤ 250μl was a risk factor associated with the development of P. mycoses and duration of stay in Prison was not associated with the development of P. mycoses.

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