Opportunistic infections and HIV clinical disease stage among patients presenting for care in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

This prospective, cross-sectional study sought to assess the spectrum of HIV-associated complications and disease stage among individuals presenting for first-time care in Phnom Penh, Cambodia between November 2001 and September 2002. One hundred patients participated in this study. All study participants presented with advanced stages of HIV disease. Seventy-four percent of the subjects had CD4 cell counts <50 cells/mm3. Tuberculosis was the most common AIDS-defining illness among participants, with a prevalence of 43%. A spectrum of other opportunistic infections, including cryptosporidiosis (13%), severe bacterial infections (12%), cryptococcosis (12%), and Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (10%), was identified. These findings underscore the need for widespread HIV treatment and prevention in this setting. Increased screening for HIV and routine health maintenance for those infected are urgently needed in order to facilitate management of both opportunistic infections and the secondary prevention of HIV infection.

The first reported cases of disseminated histoplasmosis in Cambodia, complicated by multiple opportunistic infections.

Although disseminated histoplasmosis is recognized as a common opportunistic infection in HIV-infected persons living in endemic areas, it is not widely reported in Southeast Asia, and has not been reported in Cambodia. It remains unanswered whether this is secondary to a low disease prevalence, or whether the disease, which is associated with a nonspecific clinical presentation, is under diagnosed. In addition to a review of the literature regarding histoplasmosis in Southeast Asia, we provide a description of two HIV-1 infected patients with documented disseminated histoplasmosis complicating other opportunistic infections in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. These two cases highlight the need for both a high clinical suspicion, and reliable laboratory testing, in a setting where there is likely to be more than one infection complicating the patient's clinical course.

The drug-resistant pneumococcus: clinical relevance, therapy, and prevention.

Streptococcus pneumoniae has been known for > 100 years as the most important bacterial pathogen of the respiratory tract in adults and children. In recent years, the pneumococcus has begun to exhibit increasing resistance to antimicrobial agents. Because of the huge number of infections caused by this organism, the development of resistance has changed the approach to many infectious disease problems, particularly with regard to empiric antibiotic therapy and prophylaxis. In our review of the antibiotic-resistant pneumococcus, we review the microbiologic basis for resistance, risk factors for and clinical relevance of infection by a resistant organism, and infection control measures.

Aetiology of meningitis in HIV-infected patients in a referral hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The HIV epidemic in Cambodia is one of the most extensive in Asia. Meningitis accounts for a substantial proportion of HIV-related morbidity and mortality in Cambodia. A retrospective chart review was performed to identify the clinical and spinal fluid characteristics of patients undergoing spinal tap at an AIDS referral hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia during a 16-month period. Of 932 charts reviewed, 89 met criteria for analysis. Overall mortality was 49.4%. Cryptococcus was the most commonly identified pathogen (83%), followed by mycobacteria (8%). No pathogen was identified in 9% of charts reviewed. In hospital mortality was similar in all groups.

Internet sex-seeking leads to acute HIV infection: a report of two cases.

The use of the internet provides a rapid medium for identifying potential sexual partners and arranging in-person meetings that often result in sex. There is growing concern that the internet facilitates the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. We report the first two cases of acute HIV infection after internet chat room encounters. Physicians should address the potential risks to sex seekers who use the internet. HIV prevention efforts that target internet sex seekers are needed.

HIV-1 cord-blood seroprevalence of parturient women in Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

Facing a 1.2% HIV-1 seroprevalence amongst its adult female population, Cambodia recently established national guidelines for the expansion of services to prevent mother-to-child transmission. Anticipating this expansion, Sihanoukville Hospital performed an anonymous HIV-1 cord-blood serosurvey of 600 consecutive deliveries from May 2001 through June 2002. Laboratory analysis utilizing ELISA and Western blot techniques yielded a 4.2% seroprevalence; a value resembling previous reports from other Sihanoukville antenatal clinics (3.9%) but exceeding the national ANC clinic average of 2.3%. Demographic information was confidentially collected and analysed for co-variation to HIV-1 status. One hundred percent of HIV positive mothers (P =0.013) self-reported the occupation of housewife, consistent with previous documentations suggesting the shift in infection burden from high-risk groups into the general female population. A substantial proportion received no prenatal care, suggesting that interventions addressing mother-to-child transmission will need to prepare for the management of pregnant women presenting at or near the time of delivery.

Pediatric septic bursitis: case report of retrocalcaneal infection and review of the literature.

Septic bursitis in children is rarely discussed in the medical literature. This review summarizes the clinical manifestations and management of 10 cases of septic bursitis involving patients aged <16 years. In every case in this series, acute trauma was the predisposing condition. Group A streptococci were frequently isolated from the infected bursa. Septic bursitis, an underappreciated infection in children, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of common childhood conditions.

Multicenter review of protease inhibitors in 89 pregnancies.

CONTEXT: Despite the success of highly active antiretroviral therapy, the optimal approach for preventing perinatal HIV-1 transmission is not known. OBJECTIVE: A retrospective survey was conducted at six centers in the United States and Puerto Rico from January 1997 to October 1998 to evaluate the effects of protease inhibitor use during pregnancy on maternal and infant safety, prematurity rate, and frequency of perinatal HIV-1 transmission. RESULTS: In the study, 91 live infants, including 3 sets of twins, and 1 neonate who died shortly after birth were born to 89 women. HIV perinatal transmission rate in this series was 0 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0%-3%). Prematurity rate was 19.1%, comparable to rates in earlier reports of HIV-1-infected women. In multiple regression analysis, only cocaine use and premature rupture of membranes were associated with prematurity (p =.03 and.008, respectively). The gestational week during which the protease inhibitors were initiated was not found to be significantly associated with prematurity. Adverse maternal, obstetric, and infant events possibly related to protease inhibitors were uncommon. CONCLUSIONS: Protease inhibitors appeared generally safe in mothers and infants in this series. No perinatal HIV-1 transmission occurred. Further prospective, controlled studies are needed to define the optimal management of HIV-1 in pregnancy.