Open AccessClinical and microbiological characteristics of community‐acquired pneumonia in human immunodeficiency virus‐infected patients: a retrospective analysis of 79 HIV / AIDS patients
Author(s) -
Bao Zhiyao,
Rong Xiajun,
Cheng Qijian,
Zhou Min,
Gong Qiming,
Shi Guochao,
Wan Huanying
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the clinical respiratory journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.789
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1752-699X
pISSN - 1752-6981
DOI - 10.1111/crj.12024
Subject(s) - medicine , pneumonia , community acquired pneumonia , gastroenterology , incidence (geometry) , albumin , group b , group a , bacterial pneumonia , retrospective cohort study , immunology , physics , optics
HIV infections are prevalent; however, the clinical characteristics of these patients are atypical. Objectives In the present study, we analysed 79 patients who were newly diagnosed with HIV /acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ( AIDS ) at R uijin H ospital between J anuary 1998 and A ugust 2011 to improve awareness of the physicians' diagnoses and to elucidate the risk factors for community‐acquired pneumonia ( CAP ) and the progression to severe pneumonia or respiratory failure in AIDS patients. Methods The patients were divided into a CAP group ( A ) and a non‐ CAP group ( B ). Furthermore, group A was divided into a severe pneumonia group ( A 1 ) and a non‐severe pneumonia group ( A 2 ). Results and Conclusion The serum albumin (25.60 ± 5.31 vs 34.00 ± 6.90; P < 0.05) and CD4 cell count (28.5 ± 30.5 vs 229.50 ± 229.45; P < 0.05) of group A were much lower than those of group B . The serum albumin and CD4 cell count negatively correlated with the incidence of CAP . The CD4 cell count (24.15 ± 25.1 vs 47.85 ± 132.5; P < 0.05) and partial pressure of oxygen (7.86 ± 1.43 vs 9.41 ± 2.15; P < 0.05) of group A 1 were significantly lower than those of group A 2 . Low serum albumin levels and high blood urea nitrogen levels were the risk factors of hypoxaemia in group A . Early screening and diagnosis of AIDS , as well as nutritional support, would prevent AIDS patients from developing CAP or progressing to severe pneumonia or respiratory failure.