[Bacteremia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and HIV infection]

We analyze seven patients with HIV infection that developed community-acquired bacteremic pneumonia due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. Six patients were drug addicts and one was a male homosexual. Five patients have been previously diagnosed of having AIDS. All patients had fever with respiratory tract symptoms and abnormal X-ray films of the chest, in five cases the lesions were located in both lungs. Only four patients showed a pattern of consolidation. The remaining cases showed an interstitial pattern. All but one patient have a CD4 lymphocyte count equal or less than 50 cells/mm3. Clinical evolution was good with antibiotic treatment. In two cases a relapse occur. No deaths were seen directly related to pneumococcal infection. We want to highlight the relative lack of severity of this infection and we suggest the use of antibiotic treatment for at least 14 days.