Bacterial pneumonia is a common problem for many HIV-positive people, even for those who have high T-cell counts or are responding well to anti-HIV treatment. In one large study, HIV-positive adults were almost eight times more likely to experience bacterial pneumonia that HIV-negative adults.
Bacterial pneumonia and less severe airway (respiratory tract) infections can be caused by one of several bacteria. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common, followed by Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Rarely, bacterial pneumonia can be caused by Legionella pneumophila, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Chlamydia pneumoniae.
Not only are HIV-positive people more likely to develop bacterial pneumonia as a result of one of these infections, they are also more likely to experience recurrent pneumonia. Between 8% to 25% of HIV-positive people diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia will experience a second bout of pneumonia within six months.
HIV-positive people who smoke tobacco, use crack cocaine, are intravenous drug users, or suffer from alcoholims or liver disease, are likely at a higher risk of developing bacterial pneumonia that HIV-positive people who don't have any of these cofactors.
Search for news stories about this topic