This multicenter, randomized, dose-ranging study was performed to determine the safety and efficacy of two different doses of azithromycin for treating disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) in patients with AIDS. Eighty-eight AIDS patients with symptoms and blood cultures consistent with disseminated MAC were treated with 600 or 1,200 mg of azithromycin daily for 6 weeks; 62 patients completed the entire 6 weeks of study. Of note, this study was done prior to the time when combination antiretroviral or anti-MAC regimens were the standard of care. Over the 6-week study period, symptomatic improvement was noted in both dose groups. Microbiological responses were comparable, with mean decreases of 1.5 and 2.0 log CFU/ml in the high- and low-dose groups, respectively. Sterilization of blood cultures occurred in 54% of samples; patients with lower baseline colony counts were more likely to achieve culture negativity. Resistance developed in one patient. Gastrointestinal symptoms were the most common side effects and were more frequent in patients receiving 1,200 mg. Azithromycin is a useful alternative treatment for disseminated MAC infection in AIDS patients. Symptomatic improvement correlates with measurable decreases in mycobacterial load.

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is a commonly used antibiotic for prevention of infectious diseases associated with HIV/AIDS and immune-compromised states. SMX-induced hypersensitivity is an idiosyncratic cutaneous drug reaction with genetic components. Here, we tested association of candidate genes involved in SMX bioactivation and antioxidant defense with SMX-induced hypersensitivity.

Background. Descriptions of the durability and consequences of immune reconstitution in patients who start highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) while severely immunosuppressed are limited. Methods. Patients with previous CD4⁺ cell counts 100 cells/mm³ on 2 separate occasions (measured sequentially at least 4 weeks apart), were enrolled in a prospective trial and observed every 16–32 weeks. Evaluations included assessments for new opportunistic complications, virologic (human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] RNA load) and immunologic (CD4⁺ cell count) responses, or death. Results. The median follow-up duration for 612 subjects was 184 weeks (range, 8–216 weeks). The rate of increase in CD4⁺ cell counts was ∼5.9 cells/mm³ every 8 weeks, with the degree of increase associated with the baseline HIV RNA load (40% (14 cases) occurred with higher than expected CD4⁺ cell counts. Conclusions. CD4⁺ cell count increases are related to virological control, with continuing increases seen in individuals who are immunosuppressed. Opportunistic illnesses and/or complications are infrequent but can occur at any time, even in patients who maintained an elevated CD4⁺ cell count.

The long-term consequences of wasting among HIV-infected persons are not known. HIV-infected men surviving ≥2 years based on Kaplan-Meier analysis after a clinical diagnosis or weight trajectory consistent with wasting and with available physical function assessment data [grip strength, gait speed, and quality of life (QoL)] were matched to HIV-infected and uninfected men without wasting. Matching criteria at the functional assessment included age, calendar year, and CD4 T-cell count and plasma HIV-1 RNA (HIV-infected only). Multivariable linear regression analyses adjusted for age, cohort, race, hepatitis C status, and number of comorbid illnesses were used to assess the impact of wasting on subsequent physical function. Among 85 HIV-infected men surviving ≥2 years after wasting, we evaluated physical function outcomes compared with 249 HIV-infected and 338 HIV-uninfected men with no historical wasting. In multivariable regression models, HIV-infected men with prior wasting had lower grip strength and poorer physical QoL than HIV-infected men with no wasting (P ≤ 0.03), and poorer physical QoL, but higher mental QoL than HIV-uninfected men (P ≤ 0.05). When controlling for measures of immune suppression (nadir CD4 T-cell count/AIDS, the association between wasting and physical QoL was markedly attenuated, whereas there was minimal impact on the association between wasting and grip strength. HIV-infected wasting survivors had weaker grip strength compared with HIV-infected persons without wasting; immune suppression was associated only with physical QoL. HIV-infected survivors of wasting may represent a population of adults at increased risk for physical function decline.

It is uncertain whether HIV-1 antiretroviral exposure and clinical response varies between males and females or different race/ethnic groups. We describe ritonavir-enhanced atazanavir pharmacokinetics in relation to virological failure, safety and tolerability in treatment-naive individuals to investigate potential differences. Plasma samples were collected from participants in AIDS Clinical Trials Group Study A5202 for measurement of antiretroviral concentrations. Individual estimates of apparent oral clearance of atazanavir (L/h) were calculated from a one-compartment model and divided into tertiles as slow (<7), middle (7 to <9; reference group) and fast (≥9). Associations between atazanavir clearance and clinical outcomes were estimated with a hazard ratio (HR) from Cox proportional hazards models. Interactions between atazanavir clearance and sex, race/ethnicity and NRTIs were investigated for each of the outcomes. Among 786 participants, average atazanavir clearance was slower in females (n = 131) than males (n = 655). Atazanavir clearance was associated with time to virological failure (P = 0.053) and this relationship differed significantly by sex (P = 0.003). Females in the fast atazanavir clearance group had shorter time to virological failure (HR 3.49; 95% CI 1.24–9.84) compared with the middle (reference) atazanavir clearance group. Among males, the slow atazanavir clearance group had a higher risk of virological failure (HR 2.10; 95% CI 1.16–3.77). Atazanavir clearance differed by sex. Females with fast clearance and males with slow clearance had increased risk of virological failure.

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a common reason for evaluation in the emergency department (ED). Given the overlapping risk factors for STIs, patients screened for gonorrhea and chlamydia should be tested for syphilis and HIV. Syphilis and HIV testing rates in the ED have been reported to be low. The study objective was to examine whether collaboration between emergency medicine (EM) and infectious disease (ID) providers improved syphilis and HIV testing in the ED. Methods: A multidisciplinary team of EM and ID providers was formed to identify and address barriers to syphilis and HIV testing in the ED. Syphilis, HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea testing and infection rates were calculated and compared during 2 time periods: preintervention (January 1, 2012–December 30, 2017) and postintervention (November 1, 2018–November 30, 2019). We also extracted clinical and laboratory data from patients with positive syphilis and HIV results during the study period. Results: The most commonly cited barrier to syphilis and HIV testing was concern about follow-up of positive results. Compared with the preintervention period, syphilis and HIV testing rates increased significantly in the postintervention period (incidence rate ratios, 30.70 [P < 0.0001] and 28.99 [P < 0.0001] for syphilis and HIV, respectively). The postintervention period was also associated with a significant increase in the identification of patients with positive syphilis and HIV results (incidence rate ratios, 7.02 [P < 0.0001] and 2.34 [P = 0.03], respectively). Conclusions: Collaboration between EM and ID providers resulted in a significant increase in syphilis and HIV testing and diagnosis in the ED.