OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of the incidence of mycobacterial diseases in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and analysis of survival after diagnosis of mycobacteriosis. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of clinical and laboratory data of HIV-infected patients admitted in our hospital from January 1st, 1985 to March 31st, 1992. RESULTS: We observed 82 infections in 81 patients with an increase in the annual percentage from 2.2% to 6.4%. M. tuberculosis more than atypical Mycobacteria was found in patients with pulmonary infection (p = 0.03). Forty patients had a previous diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and 24 evolved in AIDS because of mycobacterial infection. We observed infection due to M. tuberculosis in patients with advanced HIV-infection (20/27 patients with tuberculosis had CD4+ cell count < 200/cm3). Mean survival after diagnosis and treatment was 329 days with better survival in patients with CD4+ cell count > 200/cm3 (p = 0.03). We did not find a statistically significant difference in survival between patients with tuberculosis and other mycobacteriosis. CONCLUSIONS: Mycobacterial infections are increasing in HIV-infected patients, and tuberculosis is observed also in patients with advanced immunodeficiency. Survival is influenced by the severity of immunodeficiency more than by the mycobacterial species.
OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of the incidence of mycobacterial diseases in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and analysis of survival after diagnosis of mycobacteriosis. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of clinical and laboratory data of HIV-infectedpatients admitted in our hospital from January 1st, 1985 to March 31st, 1992. RESULTS: We observed 82 infections in 81 patients with an increase in the annual percentage from 2.2% to 6.4%. M. tuberculosis more than atypical Mycobacteria was found in patients with pulmonary infection (p = 0.03). Forty patients had a previous diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and 24 evolved in AIDS because of mycobacterial infection. We observed infection due to M. tuberculosis in patients with advanced HIV-infection (20/27 patients with tuberculosis had CD4+ cell count < 200/cm3). Mean survival after diagnosis and treatment was 329 days with better survival in patients with CD4+ cell count > 200/cm3 (p = 0.03). We did not find a statistically significant difference in survival between patients with tuberculosis and other mycobacteriosis. CONCLUSIONS: Mycobacterial infections are increasing in HIV-infectedpatients, and tuberculosis is observed also in patients with advanced immunodeficiency. Survival is influenced by the severity of immunodeficiency more than by the mycobacterial species.