Re: Spectrum of AIDS Defining Opportunistic Infections in a Series of 77 Hospitalised HIV-Infected Omani Patients

Abstract

Sir, The recent report on the spectrum of AIDS-defining opportunistic infections (OIs) in HIV-infected patients is very interesting.1 Balkhair et al. concluded that “a wide spectrum of OIs are seen in hospitalised HIV-infected patients in Oman.”1 Indeed, OIs are common in HIV and can be seen elsewhere around the world. The concern with the present cohort study is the diagnostic approach. Certainly, to identify the clinical spectrum, good, systematic and highly accurate tests must be implemented. Some OIs require special tests for detection. Focusing on the present report, an interesting point is the low prevalence of intestinal OIs. This might be due to these types of OIs having been overlooked. In our experience, several intestinal parasites including OIs are common and must be screened for in HIV-infected patients.2–3