Identification of infectious agents in the lungs in autopsies of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Abstract

Lung diseases are frequently observed in individuals infected with HIV. The aim of this study was to identify infectious agents in the lungs in the autopsied individuals with AIDS performed between march 1990 and july 2000 at the school of medicine (Uberaba- Brazil), using histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques. Analysis was made on lungs obtained from 40 individuals with AIDS. Infectious agents were observed in 34 (85%) cases of the 40 analyzed. Regarding fungis, Pneumocystis carinii was found in 8 (19.1%)cases; Cryptococcus sp in 4 (9.5%)cases, Histoplasma sp in 2 (4.8%)cases and Candida sp in 1 (2.4%)case. Association of Pneumocystis carinii, Citomegalovirus and Cryptococcus sp, was observed in one case, and in another, the association of CMV, and Toxoplasma gondii. There were 5 cases with Candida sp, CMV and Pneumocystis carinii associated with bacteria. In conclusion, this study shows that following bacterial agents fungi were the second most common infectious agents in post mortem examination of the lungs from patients with AIDS, being Pneumocystis carinii the most prevalent.

AIDS; Lung; Autopsy; Infectious agents