PMID: 11931402Apr 5, 2002Paper

Pathology and causes of death in a group of 128 predominantly HIV-positive patients in Botswana, 1997-1998

The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease : the Official Journal of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
N A AnsariS B Lucas

Abstract

Little is known about causes of death in countries of southern Africa seriously affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. After obtaining informed consent, autopsies were performed on 128 mainly hospitalised adults in Francistown, Botswana, between July 1997 and June 1998. Criteria for case selection included those who died before a diagnosis could be established, those whose condition deteriorated unexpectedly during hospitalization, and those who had respiratory disease. This represented 14% of adult medical patients who died in hospital during the study period. Of the 128 patients, 104 (81%) were HIV-positive. Among HIV-positive patients, the most common pathologic findings were tuberculosis (TB) (40%), bacterial pneumonia (23%), Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (11%), and Kaposi's sarcoma (11%); these conditions were the cause of death in 38%, 14%, 11%, and 6%, respectively. Of the 40 pulmonary TB cases, 90% also had disseminated extra-pulmonary TB. Chest radiology could not reliably distinguish the pathologies pre-mortem. TB was the leading cause of death in our series of HIV-positive adults in Botswana, selected towards those with chest disease; in most, it was widely disseminated. Bacterial pneumonia also played an important role...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Bacterial Pneumonia

Bacterial pneumonia is a prevalent and costly infection that is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients of all ages. Here is the latest research.

Bacterial Pneumonia (ASM)

Bacterial pneumonia is a prevalent and costly infection that is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients of all ages. Here is the latest research.

Related Papers

The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease : the Official Journal of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
J E OeltmannL J Nelson
Journal of Nursing Scholarship : an Official Publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
Nthabiseng A PhaladzeWilliam L Holzemer
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved