Abstract

To determine incidence and risk for preventable opportunistic infections (Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia [PCP] and disseminated Mycobacterium avium—complex [MAC] infection) in persons whose CD4+ T lymphocyte counts had increased by ⩾100 cells/µL to exceed the threshold of risk and in persons whose CD4+ counts had never dropped below the threshold of risk, we analyzed data collected during the period 1990–1998 in the Adult/Adolescent Spectrum of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) Disease Project. Using a counting-process formulation of the Cox model, we analyzed observation time in these 2 groups for persons who were prescribed antiretroviral therapy but not prophylaxis. The incidences of the infections were low for patients whose CD4+ count rose above the threshold of risk (PCP, 0.6 cases per 100 person-years [PY]; MAC, 1.0 cases per 100 PY) and not higher than in persons whose CD4+ counts had not decreased below these thresholds, which suggests that discontinuation of primary prophylaxis for opportunistic infections may be considered for some patients.

You do not currently have access to this article.