Viral Pathogens Including Human Metapneumovirus Are the Primary Cause of Febrile Respiratory Illness in HIV-Infected Adults Receiving

To determine the spectrum of pathogens causing acute febrile respiratory illness in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)– infected adults, we re-analyzed data from a prospective sur-veillance study involving 50 outpatients (90 % of whom re-ceived highly active antiretroviral therapy). Nasopharyngeal samples were tested for 23 respiratory viruses by multiplex reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and for atypical bacteria by PCR. Sputum cultures and serological testing were performed. Viruses accounted for 64 % of in-fections. After influenza (22 cases), human metapneumovirus infection (6 cases) was most common and was associated with bronchospasm. Bacterial infections occurred in 6 pa-tients (3 of whom had concurrent viral infection). Over 80% of patients received antibiotics. Rapid testing to identify spe-cific viral pathogens could aid in patient management an