Prevalence and indicators of HIV and AIDS among adults admitted to medical and surgical wards in Blantyre, Malawi.

Despite high seroprevalence there are few recent studies of the effect of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa. We examined 1226 consecutive patients admitted to medical and surgical wards in Blantyre, Malawi during two 2-week periods in October 1999 and January 2000: 70% of medical patients were HIV-positive and 45% had acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS); 36% of surgical patients were HIV-positive and 8% had AIDS. Seroprevalence rose to a peak among 30-40 year olds; 91% of medical, 56% of surgical and 80% of all patients in this age group were HIV-positive.

Letter from Barcelona: 14th International AIDS Conference.

From July 7th to 12th 2002, researchers, scientists, clinicians, senior government officials, representatives of non governmental organisations, AIDS activists and persons living and affected by HIV/AIDS from all over the world met for the XIV International AIDS Conference. The theme: Knowledge and Commitment for Action; the place: the beautiful and hot Spanish city of Barcelona by the Mediterranean Sea. Held at the Fira de Barcelona and at Palau St Jordi adjacent to the Olympic stadium the conference attracted over 15,000 participants with more than 10,000 posters on display.

Prevalence and indicators of HIV and AIDS among adults admitted to medical and surgical wards in Blantyre, Malawi.

Despite high seroprevalence there are few recent studies of the effect of HIV on hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa. We examined 1226 consecutive patients admitted during two 2-week periods in October 1999 and January 2000. 70% medical patients were HIV positive, and 45% had AIDS.