Opportunistic Infections In Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

ByDr. Vijay Bhushanam

Objectives

• Discuss basic factors regarding Opportunistic infections (OIs)

• See the frequency with which these OIs occur & Clinical features, Diagnosis & treatment of some OIs.

• Discuss patient education messages for preventing OIs.

AIDS Definition

• CDC definition of an HIV +ve person as having AIDS

-- Has had at least one of over 21 AIDS defining OIs

and/or --Has had a CD4 cell count of 200 or less

• NACO Definition: AIDS has been defined as the occurrence of life threatening opportunistic infections, malignancies, neurological diseases and other specific illnesses in patients with HIV infection and/or with CD4 count less than 200/cmm

HIV Related infections and illnesses

BACTERIAL VIRAL FUNGAL PARASITIC OTHERILLNESSES

Tuberculosis Varicella zoster Candidiasis Isosporiasis AIDS -dementia

Bacterial respiratory infections

Oral leukoplakia Cryptococcosis Microsporidi-osis Invasive cervical cancer

Bacterial enteric infections

HSV

CMV

Penicilliosis Cryptosporid-iosis Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia

Human herpes virus type 8

Giardiasis

Toxoplasmosis

Kaposi's sarcoma

Atypical mycobacteriosis

Human papilloma virus

Strongyloidiasis

The basics of OIs

• HIV infects a type of WBC called CD4 cells• When the immune system loses too many CD4

cells OIs are more likely to develop• Different type of OIs develop at different levels of

CD4 count, depending on the microbes or pathogens endemic in that particular region

% of OIs in AIDS cases in INDIANACO reported cases (n=5204)

0102030405060708090

100

TB Can Cryp. Dia HZ Tox Bact. Inf. PCP Cryp.Men

KS

Presenting symptoms & signs in AIDS patients NACO reported cases (n=5204)

010

2030

4050

6070

8090

100

Wt. loss Diarrhea Fever Asthenia Cough LAP

Tuberculosis

• Major world wide co-infection.• Clinical features:-cough,

-hemoptysis,

- weight loss,

-evening rise of temp.• Diagnosis: sputum for AFB, chest X-ray, culture

of specimen from the site (in case of extra PTB), Skin test (PPD)

• Treatment: DOTS as per RNTCP

Candidiasis

• Oral Candidiasis may be the initial sign of HIV infection.

• Clinical features: -oral thrush, -dysphagia • Diagnosis: C/F, KOH preparation of the

scrapings• Treatment: Gentian violet, Clotrimazole,

Miconazole in mild cases (Oral Can.) & Fluconazole in severe cases (esophageal Can.)

Cryptosporidiosis

• Found in about 35% of AIDS diarrheal cases. • Clinical features: -watery diarrhea,

-Abdominal bloating,

-profound weight loss .• Diagnosis: Microscopy • Treatment: Paromomycin/ Azithromycin.

Response is poor with all available therapies.

Prevention of malnutrition & symptomatic

relief vital in management.

Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia

• Occurs in advanced HIV disease, when CD4 falls below 250

• Clinical features:-fever,

-dry cough,

-chest pain,

-shortness of breath.• Diagnosis- C/F, sputum tests, X-ray• Treatment-TMP-SMZ (co-trimoxazole)

Cytomegalovirus

• Never occurs unless CD4 cell count less than 50 • Most typically affects the eyes• Clinical features:-Blurry vision,

- Respiratory, CNS &

Gastrointestinal complications.• Diagnosis: specialist (ophthalmologist)

examination• Treatment: Gancyclovir, Foscarnet.

Cryptococcal meningitis

• Most common cause of meningitis in AIDS• Clinical features: -headache, fever, -nausea and vomiting, -confusion and impaired consciousness, -signs of meningism (only in about 40%)• Diagnosis: CSF examination (Indian ink staining,

Ag Titre)• Treatment: Amphotericin B/Fluconazole with or

without 5-flucytosine.

Toxoplasmosis

• Commonest cause of focal cerebral lesions in HIV/AIDS

• Clinical features: -focal neurological deficit (FND), -Seizures, intracranial hemorrhage, -altered mental state and coma • Diagnosis: CT Brain• Treatment: Sulfadiazine or Clindamycin, plus Pyrimethamine & Folinic acid.

Mycobacterium Avium Complex

• Usually occurs only if the CD4 count is less than 75

• Clinical features:-Flu like fever, -chills, sweats, -anemia, fatigue. • Treatment-Clarithromycin, ethambutol• Note: certain infections like Histoplasmosis,

Blastomycosis, Mycobacterium Avium intra cellular (MAC) have not been reported from our country so far

Patient Education

• Best way to prevent OIs is to keep immune system strong

• Appropriate medication at certain CD4 cell levels can prevent many OIs (prophylaxis)

• Treatment options available if OIs develop• After recovery from OIs on-going maintenance

treatment is still needed• Can stop prophylaxis or maintenance treatment

if CD4 cell count goes up• Should not discontinue any treatment without

discussing first with Doctor

&…

General preventive measures:• Prevent exposure to ill patients.• Personal hygiene (washing hands etc.)• Avoid contact with raw food, soil, cats, bird

excreta, litter boxes etc.• Wash vegetables before cooking, avoid raw

meat intake, drink boiled water.• Use condoms during sexual contact.

Thus….

• OIs develop in an HIV infected individual depending on the CD4 count & microbial environment

• Most common OIs are TB, Candidiasis, Cryptosporidiosis, Herpes zoster, Toxoplasmosis, PCP

• Patient education plays vital role in preventing OIs

Thank you