Surveillance for AIDS-Defining Opportunistic Illnesses, 1992–1997

Data from the Adult/Adolescent Spectrum of HIV Disease sentinel surveillance project is used by persons involved with developing guidelines for preventing OIs to determine the importance of and trends in OIs and preventive therapy.

Abstract

Problem/Condition: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)defining opportunistic illnesses (OIs) are the major cause of morbidity and mortality among persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). As a result of new treatments that reduce mortality for persons with AIDS, the number of persons living with AIDS is increasing, and the incidence of AIDS is decreasing. In 1997, an estimated 271,245 persons were living with AIDS in the United States and thus were at high risk for OIs. In 1997, an estimated 21,909 HIV-infected persons died with AIDS, nearly all as a result of OIs.