Nosocomial infections in HIV-infected/AIDS patients

Several pathogenetic processes are involved in the progression to AIDS in HIV-infected individuals. These include a gradual, but ultimately profound, depletion in CD4 lymphocytes, defects in B lymphocytes, neutrophil dysfunction and the breakdown of the integument as a consequence of AIDS-related dermatological conditions such as bacterial and fungal dermatoses and Kaposi's sarcoma. Each of these factors has important implications regarding host susceptibility to nosocomial infections. This review deals with some of the difficulties that are encountered in precisely defining the interrelationships between HIV infection/AIDS and nosocomial sepsis, and some of the controversies that surround respiratory, bloodstream (including central venous catheter-related infections) and gastrointestinal infections that may be acquired within healthcare centres. Because of the lack of accurate, detailed information on this subject, parallels will sometimes be drawn from observations made in other immunologically impaired patient groups and from data examining the rates of community-acquired infections in HIV-infected patients compared to controls. Appropriate and rational infection practice to minimize the risk of acquisition of nosocomial infection is highlighted. Finally, some of the common methodological problems commonly encountered in the current literature regarding nosocomial infections in this population group, and future challenges in the study of these infections, are reviewed.