<b>Opportunistic infections in individuals with HIV infection and relationship with the use of anti-retroviral therapy</b> - doi: 10.4025/actascihealthsci.v32i2.4508

Abstract

The use of HAART therapy and the spread of primary and secondary prophylaxis led to a reduction in the number of opportunistic infections. The relationship between non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy and the development of resistance of the HIV virus is an established fact. This study evaluated the incidence of opportunistic infections in HIV patients and related them to the regular/irregular use of non-anti-retroviral therapy. Clinical evaluations were made and medical reports and tests consulted to detect opportunistic infections and a questionnaire was applied to evaluate the use of antiretroviral drugs. A questionnaire was applied for socioeconomic and clinical evaluation for the diagnosis of opportunistic infection. We evaluated 144 patients, 131 had opportunistic infections before the HAART therapy and 74 even after HAART therapy with an episode of opportunistic infection in 44 (59.45%) patients where 34 (45.95%) alleged irregular anti – retroviral use and 10 (13.5%), regular use. There were two episodes of opportunistic infections in 26 (35.14%) patients, 21 (28.38%) with irregular use of antiretrovirals and five (6.76%) with regular use and three episodes of opportunistic infections in four patients (5, 41%), three (4.05%) with irregular use of therapy and one (1.35%) with regular use. As is observed in other regions of Brazil, the incidence of opportunistic infections decreased with the use of HAART therapy. On the other hand, there continue to be new cases of opportunistic infections, suggesting that some people have exhausted all possibilities as to available therapies.