HIV-related pulmonary infections: a review of the recent literature.

Antimicrobial prophylaxis and highly active antiretroviral therapy have changed the epidemiology and impact of pulmonary infection in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, pulmonary infection remains a significant contributor to the morbidity and mortality of such patients. Bacterial pneumonia and tuberculosis remain common lung infections in this setting, especially where appropriate prophylaxis is unavailable or when compliance with such therapy is poor. Pneumonia related to Pneumocystis carinii also remains a significant problem, especially as a presenting illness in patients not yet known to be infected with HIV. Recrudescence of "treated" infection as a manifestation of the immune reconstitution syndrome may become more commonly encountered as more patients are treated with highly active therapy.