HIV-infected individuals are predisposed to infection with bacteria, in particular Streptococcus pneumoniae and non-typhi Salmonella. Other bacteria also complicate HIV disease, either because they are inherently pathogenic--Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacteraciae, bacterial agents of enteritis--or they take advantage of advanced immunosuppression--Rhodococcus spp, Nocardia spp. An understanding of the role of bacteria is essential to the care of HIV-infected patients.
