OSTEOARTICULAR AND MUSCLE INFECTIOUS LESIONS IN PATIENTS WITH THE HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS

Between 1988 and 1995, 1832 HIV positive patients were evaluated in ou r institution. We studied the epidemiologic, immunologic and bacteriol ogic data, laboratory tests, and X-Ray films in those with musculoskel etal infection. We reviewed twenty-one cases of musculoskeletal infect ion in twenty patients aged 23-35 years (mean 28,6 years, M:F=15:5). I n all of them risk factor for HIV was intravenous drug abuse. The numb er of CD4 positive lymphocytes ranged from 0,003 to 0,5 10(9)/l. Staph ylococcus aureus was the organism responsible of the infection in twel ve cases, all active intravenous drug abusers at the time the diagnosi s was done. The remaining causative agents were: Mycobacterium tubercu losis (3 cases), Candida albicans (2 cases), Salmonella subgroup 1 (1 case), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (1 case), Pseudomona aeruginosa (1 case) and Streptococcus agalactiae (1 case). Fifteen infections were diagnos ed between 1988 and 1991 and 6 between 1992 and 1995. Musculoskeletal infectious lesions in HIV positive patients in our country are related in the majority of cases to intravenous drug abuse. In the last four years due to a National medical health care plan conducted to educate this group of people the number of musculoskeletal infections is decre asing.