Pneumonia in the patient with HIV infection

The lower respiratory tract has always been a major site of complications in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. In the era before Pneumocystis carinii prophylaxis (PCP) this organism accounted for more than 70% of initial AIDS-defining diagnoses and was by far the most common identifiable cause of mortality. Even in the era of prophylaxis, PCP continues to be the most common AIDS-defining diagnosis and the most common identifiable cause of death. Despite the historic emphasis on PCP, bacterial pneumonia seems to be at least as common or more common. A substantial spectrum of other opportunistic pathogens are also commonly encountered in these patients. This article reviews pneumonia in patients with HIV infection.