Bronchoscopic study on aetiology of chronic cough in HIV-infected adults with negative sputum smears for Mycobacterium tuberculosis at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the aetiology of chronic cough in HIV-infected patients with negative sputum smears for Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB).


METHODS
A cross-sectional descriptive study.


METHODS
Kenyatta National Hospital, a tertiary referral centre in Kenya


METHODS
Sixty five HIV-infected adults presenting with chronic cough and negative sputum smears for AFBs.


RESULTS
Sixty-two patients were included in the final analysis. Aetiology of chronic cough was established in 42 (68%) patients. Pneumocystis jiroveci, bacterial pneumonia and Mycobacterium tuberculosis were diagnosed in 22 (35.5%), 17 (27.4%) and 14 (22.5%) patients respectively. Majority (98%) of patients with a diagnosis had multiple causes established in them. Ciprofloxacin had activity against 91% of the isolated organisms while Penicillin was active against 35% only.


CONCLUSIONS
This study documents Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia as a common cause of morbidity in a subset of HIV infected patients with chronic cough and negative sputum smears for AFB in Kenya.
Siika
A M
AM
Department of Medicine, Moi University School of Medicine, P. O. Box 4606-30100, Eldoret, Kenya.
Chakaya
J M
JM
Revathi
G
G
Mohamed
S S
SS
Bhatt
K M
KM
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; D000328:Adult; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003371:Cough / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016720:Pneumocystis Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D045363:Pneumocystis carinii / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*