Viral opportunistic infections in HIV-infected adults

Despite the-development of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), opportunistic infections continue to be seen in HIV-infected patients throughout the world. The primary reason for this is the lack of access to HAART for most people living with HIV/AIDS. For patients that have access to HAART, some may not have an effective response to therapy, due to reasons such as medication toxicity, poor adherence, or drug-resistant strains of HIV. Viral infections, in particular, are a major cause of opportunistic infections in HIV-infected adults, and can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. We have reviewed the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of the most common viral opportunistic infections, including cytomegalovirus, JC virus, varicella-zoster virus, herpes simplex virus, and human papillomavirus.