Acute community-acquired bacterial pneumonia in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected and non-HIV-infected adult patients in Cameroon: aetiology and outcome.

SETTING

Yaounde Central Hospital, Jamot Hospital, Yaounde, and CEBEC Hospital in Douala.

OBJECTIVE

To determine and compare the bacterial aetiology and outcome of acute community-acquired pneumonia in adult patients with and those without the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection.

DESIGN

We studied 110 consecutive adult patients admitted for pneumonia into three hospitals in Cameroon, from November 1991 to December 1992. Blood cultures, sputum microscopy and cultures as well as pneumococcal antigen detection in sera and sputum were performed. Serological analysis for HIV, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Coxiella burnetti and Chlamydia pneumoniae was also done.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight (25.5%) of the 110 patients were HIV positive. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common single bacterial aetiology in the two groups. Bacteremia was observed in 12 (15.0%) of 80 patients on whom blood cultures were done and was significantly more common in HIV seropositive than seronegative patients. Mortality was the same in the two groups.

CONCLUSION

There were no differences in aetiology and outcome between HIV seropositive and seronegative patients. However, bacteremia occurred more significantly in the HIV seropositive group.