A Study of Three Drugs Plus Zidovudine in the Prevention of Infections in HIV-Infected Patients

Persons with HIV disease who are receiving AZT are at risk for PCP, toxoplasmosis, bacterial pneumonia, and other serious infections. It is therefore important to find drugs that can be given along with AZT to control these infections. Aerosolized pentamidine (PEN) has been shown to be useful in preventing PCP and is expected to lower the 2-year risk of PCP. Both sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SMX/TMP) and dapsone probably also provide effective preventive treatment against PCP, and both may be useful in preventing toxoplasmosis and extrapulmonary pneumocystosis. All patients receive AZT. In addition, they are placed in one of three groups to receive either SMX/TMP, dapsone, or PEN. Stratification criteria are: Received first AZT equal to or less than 6 weeks prior to study entry. Received first AZT more than 6 weeks prior to study entry. Potential to participate in ACTG 981. ACTG center in which the patient is enrolled.