SPECTRUM OF OPPORTUNISTIC PULMONARY INFECTIONS OTHER THAN TUBERCULOSIS IN PATIENTS WITH HIV

This study was designed to document the prevalence of pulmonary infections other than tuberculosis in patients with HIV. The study includes 50 patients with HIV Infection whose sputum sample was evaluated for presence of bacteria other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis. These patients were admitted in Tuberculosis and Chest diseases Ward for Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Both the expectorated and induced sputum samples were collected and processed for presence of bacterial and fungal pathogens including Pneumocystis carinii. From 50 HIV +ve cases with Lower Respiratory Tract infection 45 pathogens were isolated. They were Streptococcus pneumoniae (4.4%), Staphylococcus spp (24.4%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (13.3%), E-coli (8.8%). Haemophilus influenzae (2.2%). Polymicrobial isolation was observed. This could be probably related to low level of immunosuppression and low CD4 counts. Pure fungal growth indicated poor prognosis. No case of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was detected..