[Significant bacteriological findings in HIV-positive patients]

Twenty-four episodes of bacterial infections were identified over a 18 month period in 11 patients (8 with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and 3 with AIDS related complex). Eight of the 11 infected patients were drug abusers and 3 homosexual people. Nosocomial bacterial infections were common in patients with AIDS and had high fatality rates. Gram-negative bacteria resulted the most common micro-organisms (E.coli, Proteus, Enterobacter, Serratia, Klebsiella). The Aztreonam treatment was very useful in providing bacteria eradication. Gram-positive bacteria as Staphylococcus from a sepsis and Enterococcus from a cystopyelitis were eradicated by B-lactam antibiotics. Common micro-organism are frequent in patients affected by LAS/ARC or AIDS and they negatively interfere with the disease outcome.