A retrospective study of the diagnosis, treatment patterns and therapeutic outcomes of bacterial pneumonia in adult hiv/aids patients in KNH

Abstract

HIV/AIDS is a viral infection in which the affected individuals develop a progressive failure of the immune system. The infection occurs mainly by transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre-ejaculate or breastmilk. This occurs during unprotected sex, use of contaminated needles, breastfeeding or from an infected S< mother to her baby. Since its discovery in 1981, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is considered pandemic, affecting all populations around the world. Though treatment with antiretrovirals reduces both morbidity and mortality of HIV, delayed treatment or unavailability of ARVs may result to other complications that might make it challenging to manage HIV. The untreated individuals develop Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Opportunistic Infections ;.- amongst them being Bacterial Pneumonia, that hasten death of these patients.