Decline in the rate of specific opportunistic infections at San Francisco General Hospital, 1994-1997

Prior to the widespread use of potent antiretroviral regimens, care of HIV-infected patients revolved around the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections and other HIV-related conditions. Highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART), such as protease inhibitors, became available in the United States in late 1995 and early 1996. There have been several recent reports that the rate of severe opportunistic infections has decreased following the widespread use of HAART. We report the changes in rate from 1994 to 1997 of new cases of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis, disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection, and meningitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans at San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH).