Severe pneumonia in HIV-infected and exposed infants in a paediatric ICU

Abstract

Background. Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia is still a common cause of severe disease in HIV-infected infants <5 months of age. Despite attention to the prevention of mother-to-child transmission programme in South Africa (SA), HIV testing remains incomplete and infants are still at risk. The management of Pneumocystis pneumonia requires ventilation strategies and combination antibiotics.

Methods. A prospective but open intervention was performed on all HIV-exposed patients admitted with severe pneumonia to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, SA, during a 3-year period from January 2009 to December 2011. All patients were treated with ampicillin, amikacin, co-trimoxazole, prednisone and intravenous gancilovir. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was initiated in the PICU as soon as tuberculosis was excluded and HIV status confirmed with an HIV viral load (VL). Routine blood and tracheal specimens were cultured for bacteria and tested by direct fluorescent antigen testing for P. jiroveci. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) VL was tested. All infants were ventilated in a standard fashion and none were oscillated.

Results. A total of 87 patients were admitted during the 3-year period. Of these, 29 patients were excluded from the study because they were HIV-unexposed. Ten patients died during the 3-year period. In a multivariate analysis of the presence or absence of P. jiroveci, HIV VL, CD4 count, timing of HAART initiation and CMV VL, no single factor was documented to influence mortality.

Conclusion. Mortality from Pneumocystis pneumonia continues to decrease in this PICU. No single factor is responsible and yet all therapeutic strategies contribute to survival. A national policy and guideline is urgently required.