se. Scientists suggest that HAART may in fact restore humoral immunity. HIV positive adults often are plagued with severe pyrogenic infections that tend to recur. In fact, recurrent bacterial pneumonia is considered an AIDS defining illness. Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Moraxella catarrhalis are the most frequently isolated pathogens. Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection is yet another complication of late stage HIV disease. Mortality from Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in HIV positive patients is estimated at 22% to 36%. The literature reveals that neutropenia, indwelling catheters, and hospitalization may be associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, but traditional risk factors are not always present. Clinical records were reviewed of all patients with HIV infection seen at the outpatient clinic of the Hospital of Saint Raphael between January 1992 and January 1998 to identify patients who had invasive pseudomonal disease. Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia was defined as the presence of a febrile (temperature greater than 38.3*C) respiratory illness, isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa as the sole pathogen from expectorated sputum, and evidence of infiltrate on chest radiograph. Bronchitis was defined as a productive cough. Otitis media was defined as the presence of a bulging or inflamed tympanic membrane with purulent auditory canal drainage that grew Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Sinusitis was defined as a febrile illness, headache, sinus tenderness, and purulent nasal discharge that grew Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bacteremia was defined as the isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from one or more blood cultures from a patient with clinical signs of infection. The hospital microbiology laboratory processed all specimens. Blood samples were incubated in a Bac-T alert system. Expectorated sputum samples were inoculated onto blood MacConkey and chocolate agar, and nas...
