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Processing of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid and Matched Blood for Alveolar Macrophage and CD4+ T-cell Immunophenotyping and HIV Reservoir Assessment
07:21

Processing of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid and Matched Blood for Alveolar Macrophage and CD4+ T-cell Immunophenotyping and HIV Reservoir Assessment

Published on: June 23, 2019

[Complicated purulent meningitis as first manifestation of a hidden HIV disease]

R. Manfredi1, F. Chiodo

  • 1Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica Specialistica e Sperimentale, Sezione di Malattie Infettive, Universita di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.

Le Infezioni in Medicina
|May 22, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Severe Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis revealed an undiagnosed HIV infection. Despite appropriate treatment, the patient experienced permanent hearing loss, highlighting pneumococcal complications in HIV/AIDS patients.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis can occur in patients with HIV/AIDS.
  • Occult HIV infection may complicate the presentation of bacterial meningitis.
  • Pneumococcal infections pose significant risks in immunocompromised individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a case of severe Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis associated with occult HIV infection.
  • To review the role of pneumococcal complications in HIV/AIDS.
  • To discuss neurological sequelae in the context of HIV and meningitis.

Main Methods:

  • Case report presentation.
  • Literature review of recent findings on pneumococcal complications in HIV/AIDS.
  • Analysis of in vitro susceptibility of the isolated microbial strain.

Main Results:

  • A case of severe Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis was identified.
  • Concurrent occult HIV infection was diagnosed in the patient.
  • Despite appropriate antibiotic therapy and favorable in vitro susceptibility, the patient developed permanent neurological sequelae (severe bilateral central hypacusia).

Conclusions:

  • Pneumococcal meningitis can be a presenting sign of undiagnosed HIV infection.
  • HIV/AIDS may increase the risk of severe outcomes from pneumococcal infections.
  • Neurological complications, such as hearing loss, can occur even with timely and appropriate treatment in HIV-infected patients.

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