Pandit DP, Raina S, Sangle S, Bharadwaj R; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. WePeC6238.
Sassoon General Hospitals, Pune, India
Introduction:Gastrointestinal infections are very common in AIDS patients and diarrhoea is a common clinical presentation. It has a varied aetiology and therapy needs to be modified accordingly. The present study was undertaken to asses the relative roles of differrent pathogens in causation of diarrhoea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stool samples of 50 AIDS patients with diarrhoea admitted to Sassoon General Hospital, Pune were collected & examined for bacteria, parasites, fungi and mycobacteria by standard techniques. RESULTS: Bacterial pathogens were detected in 30/50 (60%) of patients, parasites in 14 (28%), fungi in 5 (10%) and mycobacteria in 1 (2%) of patients. E.coli was the most common of bacteria (40%), 83% being Enteroinvasive E.coli (E.I.E.C.). Cryptosporidium was the most frequent parasite (12%). Candida albicans was the only fungal isolate. Weight loss was present in 100% patients with parasitic fungal and mycobacterial infections but in only 87% patients with bacterial infection. Dehydration was marked and common in mycobacterial (100%), parasitic (90.2%) and bacterial (90%) infection but in only 40% of patients with fungal infection. Fever was predominant with mycobacteria (100%) and bacteria (90%) while less frequent with parasites (55%) and fungi (40%). Patients with parasitic infection had a higher frequency of motions (d 5-10 motions per day). In other pathogens, it was less than 5 motions per day. Higher parasitic load was associated with increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS: AIDS patients can be affected by conventional as well as unconventional pathogens. Hence an E. coli isolate from stool of HIV positive patient should not be ignored. Typical clinical features can give a clue to the pathogen. Early identification of etiologic agent of diarrhoea in an AIDS patient and institution of therapy accordingly is very useful for reduction of morbidity and mortality and improving the quality of life.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Bacteria
- Bacterial Infections
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Cryptosporidium
- Diarrhea
- Enteritis
- Feces
- Gastrointestinal Diseases
- Humans
- India
- Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic
- Mycobacterium Infections
- Mycoses
Other ID:
UI: 102259091
From Meeting Abstracts