Histoplasmosis and penicilliosis among HIV-infected Thai patients: a retrospective review
Rangwala, F.; Putcharoen, O.; Bowonwatanuwong, C.; Edwards-Jackson, N.; Kramomthong, S.; Kim, J.H.; Corey, G.Ralph.; Ananworanich, J.
Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 43(2): 436-441
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-1562 PMID: 23082594 Document Number: 573199
Histoplasmosis and penicilliosis are fungal infections with similar clinical presentation and laboratory findings that were reported mainly in the era prior to highly active antiretroviral therapy. We conducted a retrospective review at two hospitals in Central Thailand of the medical records of HIV-positive patients with microbiologic evidence of histoplasmosis or penicilliosis between January 2003 to September 2007 when antiretrovirals became widely available in Thailand. Fifty patients met inclusion criteria; 36 had histoplasmosis, and 14 had penicilliosis. Symptoms and laboratory findings on presentation were similar between the two infections except for a greater incidence of tachypnea and neutropenia among patients with histoplasmosis (both p < 0.05). For histoplasmosis, blood culture had a significantly lower yield for detecting infection compared to tissue microscopic examination highlighting the importance of obtaining tissue for diagnosis (p < 0.05).