1. Bacterial pneumonia in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
- Author
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Polsky, Bruce, Gold, Jonathan W.M., Whimbey, Estella, Dryjanski, Jose, Brown, Arthur E., Schiffman, Gerald, Armstrong, Donald, Polsky, B, Gold, J W, Whimbey, E, Dryjanski, J, Brown, A E, Schiffman, G, and Armstrong, D
- Subjects
PNEUMONIA ,AIDS patients - Abstract
Eighteen episodes of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia were diagnosed in 13 patients among 336 with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) cared for at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center since 1979. Bacterial pathogens isolated in 16 of 18 episodes were Haemophilus influenzae in 8, Streptococcus pneumoniae in 6, group B streptococcus in 1, and Branhamella catarrhalis in 1. Eight episodes were presumed Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia until cultures obtained at bronchoscopy confirmed a bacterial cause. Specific antibacterial therapy was curative in 16 of 18 episodes; 2 patients died. Given an estimated yearly incidence of pneumococcal pneumonia in the general population of 2.6/1000, 1.09 cases were expected in our patients with AIDS; we saw 6 (p = 0.001), for an attack rate of 17.9/1000. Bacteria associated with B-cell defects should be anticipated when formulating empiric antibiotic therapy, pending a definitive diagnosis, for pulmonary infiltrates in patients with AIDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 1986
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