Zidovudine therapy protects against Salmonella bacteremia recurrence in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients

Fifty-five human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with Salmonella b acteremia were studied to assess the rate of and causes for recurrence and to determine the influence on relapse of zidovudine, cotrimoxazole, and ant imicrobial suppressive therapy according to the susceptibility of the isola tes. Overall, 22% of patients relapsed in a median time of 87 days, indepen dent of CD4 cell count, Salmonella serotype, or duration of antibiotic ther apy. The use of zidovudine was associated with the lowest rate of recurrenc es compared with cotrimoxazole or amoxicillin as suppressive therapy. In th e microbiologic assay, zidovudine showed bactericidal effect on Salmonella species at current dosages, and resistance to zidovudine was uncommon (2 ca ses, 4%). Due to its direct effect on Salmonella species, a zidovudine-cont aining regimen may protect against the recurrence of the disease.