Bacteremia and Fungemia in Patients with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

Abstract

Patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are known to have identifiable host defense deficiencies, especially deficiencies in cell-mediated immunity. They are at increased risk for developing infections of the bloodstream caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and Salmonella species. However, bacteremias caused by other enteric gram-negative rods and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are found less frequently in patients with AIDS than in patients without AIDS (P < 0.001 and P < 0:01, respectively). The finding of specific organisms in blood is consistent with the known types of host defense deficiencies in these patients.