HIV and influenza virus infections are associated with increased blood pneumococcal load: a prospective, hospital-based observational study in South Africa, 2009-2011.
BACKGROUND
Increased pneumococcal loads are associated with severe outcomes. We determined the prevalence of pneumococcal DNA in blood specimens from patients hospitalized with acute lower respiratory tract infection and identified factors associated with invasive pneumococcal pneumonia, bacterial loads, and death.


METHODS
A total of 8523 patients were enrolled as part of prospective hospital-based surveillance. Blood was collected for quantitative pneumococcal (lytA) detection, and nasopharyngeal specimens were collected for detection of influenza virus and other respiratory viruses by real-time polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Of 6396 cases (75%) with lytA results, 422 (7%) were positive for pneumococcal DNA. The prevalences of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and influenza virus were 51% (2965/5855) and 8% (485/6358), respectively. On multivariable analysis, HIV infection (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-3.6), influenza virus coinfection (aOR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.2-2.1), oxygen therapy during admission (aOR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.3) and in-hospital death (aOR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1-4.0) were significantly associated with increased pneumococcal load. Among lytA-positive patients, after adjustment for length of hospitalization, duration of symptoms, and oxygen therapy during admission, pneumococcal loads ≥10,000 DNA copies/mL (aOR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.8-7.2) were associated with increased risk of death.


CONCLUSIONS
HIV and influenza virus infections were associated with elevated pneumococcal loads, which, in turn, were associated with increased risk of death.
Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service.
Nicole
N
Wolter
Cheryl
C
Cohen
Stefano
S
Tempia
Shabir A
SA
Madhi
Marietjie
M
Venter
Jocelyn
J
Moyes
Sibongile
S
Walaza
Babatyi
B
Malope Kgokong
Michelle
M
Groome
Mignon
M
du Plessis
Marthi
M
Pretorius
Halima
H
Dawood
Kathleen
K
Kahn
Ebrahim
E
Variava
Keith P
KP
Klugman
Anne
A
von Gottberg
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016470:Bacteremia; D058491:Bacterial Load; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification
HIV; Streptococcus pneumoniae; bacterial load; influenza; pneumococcal pneumonia