Upper-extremity infections in patients seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus

The records of 74 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive patients who were treated for upper-extremity infections were retrospectively reviewed. Intravenous drug use was the most common risk factor for HIV infection as well as the most common cause of the infection necessitating admission. These patients were admitted a total of 97 times for the treatment of 89 different infections and underwent 120 surgical procedures. Twenty-six infections (29%) required more than 1 operation, and 11 (12%) resulted in amputation. Twenty-seven patients who met criteria for the diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were found to be no more likely than their HIV-seropositive counterparts to be readmitted for the same diagnosis, to be treated for more than 1 infection, or to require more than 1 operation or amputation to eradicate their infection. Patients with AIDS were significantly more likely to present with spontaneous onset of infection in the absence of penetrating injury than were those who were HIV seropositive.