Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. My brother has AIDS and is currently fighting a severe pneumonia
(PCP pneumonia) that is completely covering his left lung. In
addition he has developed bacterial infections and has some
scarring on his lungs. Is this a condition that can cause his
death and what is the best treatment for these types of
illnesses?
Thank you for any help you can provide me on this matter.
Trimethoprim + Sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) is the treatment of choice. However, PCP can be resistant. Alternatives include clindamycin + primaquine or pentamidine. Often prednisone is added to decrease the inflammation.
If your brother is on effective antivirals and has t-cells approaching the 200 range then he should be able to clear PCP. If his t-cells are really low, he may lack a sufficient immune response necessary to ultimately clear PCP. When this happens and PCP repeated recurs, the lungs get very scarred with each bout of PCP and eventually an emphysema-like lung condition sets in. This can lead to respiratory failure and may not allow your brother to recover.
And often in these circumstances there is more than one organism in the lung such as viruses or funguses in addition to bacteria as you noted. This too can make recovery difficult.
070216
ASKD070208
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980,2011. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.