Opportunistic infections are one of the major problem among HIV infected patients still connected with high mortality. The aim of the investigation is to evaluate the incidence and mortality from opportunistic infections in HIV infected population in Pomeranian region of Poland. The paper presents analysis of incidence of opportunistic infections among 141 AIDS patients hospitalised in Clinic for Infectious Diseases in Gdańsk from 1988 to 2001/June/. In examined group 179 opportunistic infections were diagnosed. Most frequent was oesophageal candidiasis 58%, tuberculosis 29%, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia 21% and central nervous system toxoplasmosis 13%. The occurrence of opportunistic infections depends on CD4 count and rises with CD4 decline. Opportunistic infections were the reason of death in 33 from 74 cases/45%/.
Conclusions: In examined group 28% of patients did not know about HIV infection when first opportunistic infection was diagnosed. Most frequent opportunistic infections in AIDS patients were oesophageal candidiasis, tuberculosis, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and toxoplasmosis. In 98% of cases opportunistic infection developed when no HAART nor infection prophylaxis was administered. Opportunistic infection was the reason of death in 45% of cases, the most frequent were PCP and CNS toxoplasmosis.