Abstract
Background: Acute respiratory diseases are part of opportunistic infections developed by patients with HIV/AIDS due to immunosuppression. The present study aims evaluating the clinical and evolutive patterns of acute respiratory infections in patients with HIV/AIDS.
Methods: The authors have retrospectively analyzed 82 patients with HIV/AIDS and acute respiratory diseases admitted at Clinic of Infectious Diseases. The positive diagnosis was based on clinical elements, biological parameters (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, leukocyte count, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, sputum culture etc) and paraclinic elements (chest radiography, spirometry).
Results: From the study group, 52 patients with acute respiratory diseases (p=0.04) have been registered: 10 cases (12.19%) had bacterial pneumonia, 8 (9.75%) had interstitial pneumonia, 4 (4.87%) had fungal pneumonia, 8 (9.75%) had acute bronchitis, 11 (13.41%) had influenza, 7 (8.53%) had acute anginas and 4 (4.87%) had pulmonary tuberculosis. The etiological agent has been isolated in 21 cases: 7 with Streptococcus pneumoniae, 4 with Staphilococcus aureus, 2 with Klebsiella pneumoniae, 4 with Pneumocystis jirovecii and 4 with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In 54 cases, CD4-cell count was less than 200 cells/mm3 and 28 cases (p=0.01) over 200 cells/mm3. Under specific therapy and antiviral treatment, the clinical outcome has been favourable in 50 cases, only 2 cases died with pulmonary tuberculosis.
Conclusion: The detailed study of the clinical and evolutive patterns of respiratory infections in patients with HIV/AIDS allows timely implementation of specific therapy and prophylaxis in this populational group with multiple risks.
- © 2011 ERS
