A Study on Type of Respiratory Infections and Its Correlation with CD4 Count in HIV Positive Patients

Abstract

Background : Several important changes in the pattern of pulmonary diseases that have become recently
apparent have implications for the diagnosis, management and outcome of AIDS patients. The present study was
planned with an objective to study pattern of various respiratory infections and to correlate CD4 count with various
respiratory infections in HIV patients.
Methodology : The present cross-sectional study was carried out in 50 HIV positive patients admitted in Medicine
ward/ ICU/TB ward in a tertiary care hospital. The information regarding clinical examination, sputum examination
and laboratory parameters including CD4 counts were recorded.
Results : The most common respiratory infection was pulmonary tuberculosis (76%) followed by pneumonia
(12%). M. tuberculosis was found in 40 cases (80%), P. aeruginosa in 3 cases (6%), K. pneumonia in 3 cases (6%),
S. Pneumonia in 2 cases (4%) and S. aureus in 1 case (2%). Mean CD4 count in sputum positive TB patients was
224.4±159.75 while for sputum negative TB patients it was 167.90±60.88. Mean CD4 for patients of
Pseudomonas pneumonia in this study was 286.66±160.74, while for K. pneumoniae it was 421±222.03 and for P.
aeruginosa it was 270±124.45.
Conclusion : It is concluded from present study that there is a strong correlation between CD4 count and pattern
of respiratory complications in HIV-seropositive patients. Patients with CD4 count <200 cells/μL are more prone for
respiratory complications. Hence, high level of clinical suspicion required for diagnosis of respiratory
complications in HIV-infected individuals particularly with patients having CD4 count <200 cells/μL.