SEPTICEMIA IN ADULT HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS - A REPORT ON 58 CASES

We reviewed the characteristics of 58 episodes of septicemia which occ urred in 53 HIV infected adults over a 30-month period. This cases rep resented 10.1% of HIV infected hospitalized patients. At the time of s epticemia, 79.3% patients were at AIDS stage ; mean CD4 count was 72/m m3. Nosocomial septicemia occurred significatively more often in patie nts with previous AIDS defining illness and in neutropenic patients (p less-than-or-equal-to 0.05 and p less-than-or-equal-to 0.001 respecti vely). Staphylococcus coagulase negative ( n = 17), Staphylococcus aur eus (n = 11) and Salmonella (n = 8) were the most common organisms. Th e source of infection was found more frequently in nosocomial septicem ia than in community-acquired septicemia (78 % versus 46 % ; p < 0.02) , mainly intravenous catheter (60 %). Staphylococcus aureus, AIDS stag e and nosocomial septicemia have high fatality rates. Mortality was no t higher than previously rapported in the general population.