Fungal and mycobacterial infections in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.

Fungal and mycobacterial infections are among the most common opportunistic infections in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Candida infections are the bell-wether of progression to symptomatic HIV infection and candida oesophagitis often marks the onset of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). More than 80% of AIDS patients have candida disease. Candida infections remain local and respond to treatment but tend to recur. Cryptococcal infections initially affect few HIV positive patients but involve 10-30% with AIDS. Meningitis is the usual presentation and dissemination is common. Amphotericin usually produces improvement but cure is infrequent, and maintenance therapy is advisable. Mycobacteria cause intracellular infections increasing in parallel with immunodeficiency. Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare is predominant, occurring with other opportunistic pathogens causing systemic and local symptoms with high bacterial density in infected cells. Multidrug treatment is best, but the results are disappointing. Tuberculosis is prevalent in certain groups of patients. It often presents with atypical clinical and pathological features. Anti-tuberculous treatment is effective and prophylaxis should be considered. Endemic fungi with mycobacteria cause sporadic infections. Opportunistic infections are the lethal arm of HIV infection. Diligent diagnosis and persistent treatment offer benefit to HIV-infected patients.