[Fungemia in patients with HIV infection]

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Updated: Oct 26, 2026

Sequencing of Bacterial Microflora in Peripheral Blood: our Experience with HIV-infected Patients
13:50

Sequencing of Bacterial Microflora in Peripheral Blood: our Experience with HIV-infected Patients

Published on: June 11, 2011

J Santos1, R Palacios, A Esteve

  • 1Unidad de Infecciosos, Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga.

Anales De Medicina Interna (Madrid, Spain : 1984)
|December 9, 1998
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Fungal infections like cryptococcosis and histoplasmosis are common in advanced HIV disease. Candidemia in HIV patients is often linked to intravenous drug use.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • HIV/AIDS Research

Background:

  • Fungemia, or fungal bloodstream infections, can be a serious complication in immunocompromised individuals.
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection significantly increases susceptibility to opportunistic infections, including fungal pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the incidence and characteristics of fungemia in patients with HIV infection.
  • To identify the specific fungal species causing fungemia and their association with patient demographics and clinical outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of HIV-infected patients with positive blood cultures for fungi between 1989 and 1997.
  • Identification of fungal species, including Candida spp., Cryptococcus neoformans, and Histoplasma capsulatum.
  • Review of patient treatment regimens and clinical outcomes, including mortality and relapse.

Main Results:

  • Cryptococcus neoformans fungemia occurred in 11 patients, with significant mortality and relapse rates.
  • Candida species fungemia was identified in 9 patients, predominantly associated with intravenous drug use and presenting with varied manifestations like endocarditis and pneumonia.
  • Histoplasma capsulatum fungemia was observed in one patient, responding initially to antifungal therapy.

Conclusions:

  • Fungemia is relatively infrequent in the studied HIV-infected patient population.
  • Cryptococcosis and histoplasmosis are associated with advanced HIV disease.
  • Candidemia in HIV patients is strongly linked to intravenous drug use.

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