[Prospective study of pathogenic agents isolated from feces of patients with HIV infections]

Determine the frequency of enteropathogenic agents isolated in diarrheic feces of patients with HIV infection and to compare findings with a control group (HIV + without diarrhea) in order to identify risk factors.

All HIV seropositive inpatients and outpatients seropositive for HIV, with or without diarrhea, seen between 1 November 1994 and 30 April 1995 were included. Samples of feces were obtained for culture, virology examination, parasite examination and search for Clostridium difficile. The same samples were obtained in case of diarrhea during the course of hospitalization.

There were 113 samples. Analyses demonstrated a pathogenic agent in 73.6% of the samples in patients with diarrhea and in 31.6% of those without diarrhea. Clostridium difficile and parasites were the most frequently identified agents. An infectious agent was identified in one-fourth of the patients without clinical signs of diarrhea, and in one-fourth of those with diarrhea no pathogen could be demonstrated. No factor of risk for finding a particular microorganism in feces of patients with diarrhea could be identified.

The exact pathogenic roles of Pseudomonas aeuriginosa, yeast, and adenovirus remain to be determined. It is hypothesized that the HIV has a direct effect on the host digestive tract.