Patients studied: HIV-infected patients >= 13 years of age in 9 urban areas in the USA
Risk factors identified for predicting a first episode of pneumonia with Pneumocystis carinii in HIV-infected patients in the USA not receiving prophylaxis (relative risk 8.3):
(1) CD4 lymphocyte count < 250 per µL, OR
(2) CD4 percent < 14%
Previous criteria for prophylaxis against Pneumocystis (relative risk 5.9):
(1) CD4 lymphocyte count < 200 per µL, OR
(2) history of oral Candidiasis, OR
(3) history of unexplained fever for >= 2 weeks, OR
(4) history of PCP
Patients identified as being at increased risk for a first episode of PCP should receive prophylaxis.
Other possible risk factors being studied:
(1) rate of decline in CD4 cell count
(2) HIV RNA plasma load
