Appendix G: Treatment and Prophylaxis for Common Infections in HIV-Postive Patients

Disease
Likely CD4 count at occurrence
Preferred treatment regimen(s) Preferred prophylactic regimen(s)
Candidiasis, esophageal
CD4 <200 cells/mm3
Fluconazole 400 mg/day orally for 14-21 days No prophylaxis
Candidiasis, oropharyngeal
CD4 <200 cells/mm3
Fluconazole 200 mg/day orally for 10-14 days No prophylaxis
Herpes simplex, genital (first episode) Acyclovir 400 mg orally 5x/day for 10 days No prophylaxis
Herpes, uncomplicated varicella-zoster Acyclovir 800 mg orally 5x/day for 10 days No prophylaxis
Herpes, disseminated (or complicated) varicella-zoster Acyclovir 10 mg/kg IV over 1 hour 3x/day for 7 days; max dose 20 mg/kg 3x/day No prophylaxis
Malaria, chloroquine-sensitive Chloroquine 1 g (600 mg base) followed by 500 mg in 6 hours then 500 mg/day for 2 days

Alternative: quinine 640 mg 3x/day orally or IV + doxycycline 100 mg 2x/day orally for 7 days
Consider prophylaxis based on local resistance patterns for pregnant women in endemic areas
Malaria, chloroquine-resistant Quinine 650 mg 3x/day orally or IV + doxycycline 100 mg 2x/day orally for 7 days Consider prophylaxis based on local resistance patterns for pregnant women in endemic areas
Meningitis, cryptococcal
CD4 <100 cells/mm3
Amphotericin B 1 mg/kg/day IV + flucytosine 25 mg/kg orally if available for 14 days, followed by fluconazole 400 mg/day orally or IV for 8-10 weeks Secondary prophylaxis after treatment: fluconazole 200 mg/day orally
Mycobacterium avium complex
CD4 <50 cells/mm3
Clarithromycin 500 mg orally 2x/day + E 15 mg/kg/day + RFB 300 mg/day

Alternative: azithromycin 600 mg/day orally + E 15 mg/kg/ day + RFB 300 mg/day
Primary prophylaxis if CD4 <50 cells/mm3: azithromycin 1200 mg/ week orally

Alternative: clarithromycin 500 mg 2x/day orally
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
CD4 <200 cells/mm3
TMP/SMX 2 DS tablets 3x/day for 21 days

Alternatives: atovaquone 750 mg 2x/day orally for 21 days or clindamycin 300-450 mg 4x/ day orally + primaquine 30 mg/ day orally for 21 days
Primary and secondary lifelong prophylaxis: TMP/SMX 1 DS tablet/ day or 3x/week

Alternatives: dapsone 100 mg/day orally or atovaquone 750 mg/day orally
Syphilis, early or less than one year Single-dose benzathine benzylpenicillin 2.4 MU IM

Alternative: doxycyline 100 mg 2x/day orally for 15 days
No prophylaxis
Syphilis, latent or more than one year Benzathine benzylpenicillin 2.4 MU/week IM for 3 weeks

Alternative: doxycyline 100 mg 2x/day orally for 30 days
No prophylaxis
Syphilis, neurosyphilis Benzathine benzylpenicillin 3-4 MU IV 6x/day for 10-14 days

Alternative: procaine-penicillin G 2.4 MU/day IM + probenecid 0.5 g orally 4x/day for 10 days
No prophylaxis
Toxoplasmosis
CD4 <100 cells/mm3
Preferred: pyrimethamine 100 mg orally first day, then 50-100 mg/day + sulfadiazine 0.5-2 g 4x/day + folinic acid 10 mg/day for at least six weeks, then lifelong prophylaxis

Alternatives: TMP 10 mg/kg/ day divided 2x/day (not first-line therapy) for at least 6 weeks, followed by suppression regimen; or pyrimethamine 200 mg loading dose orally followed by 75 mg/day + sulfadiazine 6-8 g/day orally in 4 divided doses
Primary prophylaxis if CD4 <200 cells/mm3: TMP/SMX 1 DS tablet/day

Secondary prophylaxis: pyrimethamine 25-50 mg/day + sulfadiazine 0.5-1 g 4x/day + folinic acid 10 mg/day
Tuberculosis See Tables 2.1 and 2.2 Primary prophylaxis if PPD >5 mm: H 300 mg/ day + pyridoxine 50 mg/ day for 9 months
Typhoid fever, less severe cases Ciprofloxacin 500 mg orally 2x/day for 10 days

Alternatives: TMP/SMX 1 DS tablet 2x/day for 10 days or cefixime 10-15 mg/kg orally 2x/day for 10 days
No prophylaxis
Typhoid fever, severe cases Ceftriaxone 50 mg/kg/day IV for 14 days (max dose 2 g/day) No prophylaxis