Penicillium morneffei, an emerging AIDS-related pathogen--a RIMS study

Twenty-seven HIV-infected patients with penicilliosis were included to study the clinical, laboratory and therapeutic features of HIV-infected patients with disseminated Penicillium marneffei infection. Diagnosis was based on microscopy and culture. CD4 counts were assessed by flow cytometry. Males (23 out of 27) predominated while the ages ranged from 20 to 54 years (mean 31.5 years). The most common manifestations were fever, weight loss, anaemia and skin lesions. CD4 counts were low in all the patients. The response to treatment with intravenous amphotericin B followed by itraconazole was excellent. Penicillium marneffei has become an important opportunistic pathogen of HIV infection in Manipur. Penicilliosis should be considered in a susceptible patient with a non-specific febrile illness, a low CD4 count and molluscum contagiosum-like skin lesions. Early diagnosis and treatment improve survival.