THE LUNG AND HIV Flashcards
What percentage of HIV positive patients will experience at least one episode of respiratory disease over their lifetime?
60%
Are HIV positive patient with a normal CD4 count any more prone to lung infections than the general population?
Yes - but to the same typical community-acquired infections
What are the HIV associated respiratory tract infections?
Acute bronchitis
Acute sinusitis
Chronic sinusitis
Bronchiectasis
Bacterial pneumonia
Tuberculosis
Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia - PCP
Cryptococcus neoformans pneumonia
Histoplasma capsulatum
Influenza A
What are the organisms that most commonly cause bronchitis?
Streptococcus pneumonia
Haemophilus influenzae
What are the causative factors of bronchiectasis in an HIV positive patient?
Low CD4 count leads to recurrent bacterial, mycobacterial or pneumocystis infections. These eventually lead to bronchiectasis.
What imaging technique is used to diagnose bronchiectasis?
High resolution CT
How much more prone to bacterial pneumonia are HIV patients not taking cART?
6 - 10 times more likely
What group of HIV positive patients are particularly prone to bacterial pneumonia?
IVDUs
What is the organism most commonly responsible for bacterial pneumonia in HIV positive patients?
S. pneumoniae followed by H. influenzae
What does bacterial pneumonia look like on a radiograph of someone who is HIV positive?
More frequently atypical, mimicking PCP in up to half of cases.
What can we do to reduce risk of bacterial pneumonia in HIV positive patients?
Immunisation with 23-valent pneumococcal vaccination at diagnosis of HIV and at 5 years post diagnosis
cART to keep CD4 count high
What type of organism is Pneumocystis jirovecii?
Fungus
Which HIV positive patients are most at risk of PCP?
Those who are unaware of their diagnosis: it is a common presenting complaint that leads to HIV diagnosis
Those who do not tolerate or adhere to their cART
What are the clinical features of PCP?
Non-productive cough
Progressive exertional breathlessness
Several days to weeks duration
With or without fever
Chest is usually clear on auscultation
End-inspiratory crackles are very occasionally heard
What does a typical chest radiograph of someone with PCP looking like?
In early cases, 10% of cases will have normal looking chest x-ray
Most common features are bilateral, perihilar interstitial infiltrates - more clearly seen on CT scan
Progresses to diffuse alveolar shadowing over a period of a few days
What are the atypical features of a chest radiograph of someone with PCP present in up to 20% of cases?
Upper zone infiltrates resembling TB
Hilar/mediastinal lymphadenopathy
Intrapulmonary nodules
Lobar consolidation
How do we definitively diagnose PCP?
Sputum culture often reveals nothing
Bronchoalveolar lavage is needed to demonstrate PCP
However, patients are normally treated empirically especially if they have CD4 count less than 200
How clinically stratify severity of PCP?
Mostly using PaO2 and SaO2
Mild:
PaO2 more than 11.0
SaO2 more than 96%
Moderate:
PaO2 between 8.1 - 11.0
SaO2 between 91 - 96%
Severe:
PaO2 less than or equal to 8.0
SaO2 less than 91
What is the first line treatment in the management of PCP?
Co-trimoxazole BD or QDS for 21 days
Mild: PO
Moderate to severe: IV
Most will need admitting to ITU
What are the two medications contained within co-trimoxazole?
Sulfamethoxazole 100 mg/kg/day
Trimethoprim 20 mg/kg/day
What is the second line treatment in the management of PCP if co-trimoxazole fails?
MILD / MODERATE:
Clindamycin-primaquine
OR
Dapsone with trimethoprim
OR
Atovaquone
SEVERE:
Clindamycin-primaquine
OR
IV pentamidine
What additional medication should patients with PCP who present with a PaO2 of less than 9.3 kPa be given?
Glucocorticoids within 72 hours of starting anti-PCP treatment
What are the indications for prescribing prophylaxis of PCP?
CD4 count of less than 200 cells/microlitre
CD4 count of less than 14% of total lymphocytes
History of another AIDS defining diagnosis - eg Kaposi
All patients after an episode of PCP (secondary prophylaxis)