Educativ work ACTA.FAC.MED.NAISS. 1999; 16(2), 94-99

THE MANAGEMENT OF OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTION IN AIDS

Jovan Ranin

Opportunistic infections occur in advanced HIV infection. Most of them are due to the reactivation of latent infections in the setting of HIV-induced immunodeficiency. Accordingly, the risks for developing opportunistic events increases when the CD4 cell count decreases below 200 cells/ml. The management of opportunistic infections include primary prophylaxis, cure of acute episode and maintenance therapy. Primary prophylaxis can delay or prevent the occurrence of opportunistic infections improving so the quality of life of AIDS patients. Having in mind the importance of primary prophylaxis and necessity for consensus, United States Public Health Service (USPHS) and Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) introduced the guidelines for prevention of opportunistic infections. When primary prophylaxis strategy fail, opportunistic illneses occur. It is then necessary to use adequate drugs considering resistence issue, drugs toxicities and interaction between antiretrovirals and other compaunds. Successeful treatment of an acute episode of opportunistic infection does not meen the eradicaion of the pathogen. This is why the meintenance therapy is needed after finishing the treatment. Inspite the development of various measures for prevention of opportunistic infections and new strategies in antiretroviral therapy, infections still remain the most frequent causes of morbidity and mortality among AIDS patients. Further clinical investigations are needed to improve the quality of life of AIDS patients.

Key words: AIDS, opportunistic infections, treatment, prophylaxis