Prevalence of enteric pathogens in HIV-related diarrhea in the midwest

HIV disease is often associated with the condition of diarrhea, which may be accompanied by enteric infection or gastrointestinal tumor. This study prospectively investigated 27 episodes of chronic diarrhea in 24 patients with HIV infection. Upper endoscopy and sigmoidoscopy with biopsies at three sites (distal duodenum, sigmoid colon, and rectum) and viral and mycobacterial blood cultures were performed. Stool specimens were sent for standard tests. A primary infectious diagnosis was found in 10 (37%) of 27 episodes: cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis (n = 4), 3 microsporidiosis (n = 3), cryptosporidiosis (n = 2), and colonic histoplasmosis (n = 1). Patients with CD4 counts of less than 50 cells/mm3 and with lower albumin levels were more likely to have a primary infectious diagnosis. Adenovirus was found in 7 cases but was often associated with another organism; these were not considered to be primary diagnoses. Blood cultures for viruses were not useful, and all mycobacterial cultures were negative. A flexible sigmoidoscopy with histologic examination and culture of biopsy samples were the diagnostic tools that yielded most infectious diagnoses. Follow-up showed that two thirds of patients improved with nonspecific antidiarrheal medications regardless of diagnosis. The study supports a minimalistic approach to the problem of diarrhea in patients with HIV infection. Upper and lower endoscopy lead to a precise diagnosis in a minority of cases, and the outcome was similar in patients with or without a primary infectious diagnosis.