Histoplasmosis and penicilliosis among HIV-infected Thai patients: a retrospective review.
Histoplasmosis and penicilliosis are fungal infections with similar clinical presentation and laboratory findings that were reported mainly in the era prior to highly active antiretroviral therapy. We conducted a retrospective review at two hospitals in Central Thailand of the medical records of HIV-positive patients with microbiologic evidence of histoplasmosis or penicilliosis between January 2003 to September 2007 when antiretrovirals became widely available in Thailand. Fifty patients met inclusion criteria; 36 had histoplasmosis, and 14 had penicilliosis. Symptoms and laboratory findings on presentation were similar between the two infections except for a greater incidence of tachypnea and neutropenia among patients with histoplasmosis (both p < 0.05). For histoplasmosis, blood culture had a significantly lower yield for detecting infection compared to tissue microscopic examination highlighting the importance of obtaining tissue for diagnosis (p < 0.05).
Department of Internal Medicine, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC, USA.
Fatima
F
Rangwala
Opass
O
Putcharoen
Chureeratana
C
Bowonwatanuwong
Nneka
N
Edwards-Jackson
Siriluck
S
Kramomthong
Jerome H
JH
Kim
G Ralph
GR
Corey
Jintanat
J
Ananworanich
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009181:Mycoses / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010407:Penicillium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology