BACTEREMIA IN HIV-POSITIVE AND AIDS PATIENTS - INCIDENCE, SPECIES DISTRIBUTION, RISK-FACTORS, OUTCOME, AND INFLUENCE OF LONG-TERM PROPHYLACTIC ANTIBIOTIC-TREATMENT

From a cohort of 837 adult, mainly homosexual HIV-infected patients, 7 6 bacteremic/fungemic episodes were identified in 63 patients over a 5 -year period, Compared with an age-matched reference population with a n incidence of 10.3 bacteremias/10,000 person-years, the incidence was 170 among pre-AIDS (p < 0.001) and 3,200 among AIDS patients (p < 0.0 01). Staphylococcal infections comprised 35% of ail episodes, while th e HIV-related pathogens Streptococcus pneumoniae, Salmonella spp. and C. neoformans together accounted for 34%. The overall mortality associ ated with clinical bacteremia was 12%, hut nit for Salmonella spp. and S. pneumoniae. Predisposing factors for the infection were: low CD4 c ount( < 100 x 10(6)/l) in 71%, permanent intravenous Line, 44%; neutro penia, 11% and active intravenous drug abuse, 7%, Hence, in this popul ation, intensified hygienic precautions for intravenous lines should b e the primary target for intervention. Long-term cotrimoxazole prophyl axis may prevent bacteremia with S. pneumoniae and Salmonella spp.