HIV and SARS-CoV-2 co-infection: The diagnostic challenges of dual pandemics

A Parker; J Shaw; S Karamchand; S Lahri; N Schrueder; M-Y Chothia; A Mowlana; U Lalla; B W Allwood; C F N Koegelenberg; J J Taljaard

doi:10.7196/SAMJ.2020.v110i6.14825

HIV and SARS-CoV-2 co-infection: The diagnostic challenges of dual pandemics

S Afr Med J. 2020 Apr 30;110(6):473-475. doi: 10.7196/SAMJ.2020.v110i6.14825.

Authors

A Parker¹, J Shaw, S Karamchand, S Lahri, N Schrueder, M-Y Chothia, A Mowlana, U Lalla, B W Allwood, C F N Koegelenberg, J J Taljaard

Affiliation

¹ Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. aparker@sun.ac.za.

PMID: 32880556
DOI: 10.7196/SAMJ.2020.v110i6.14825

Abstract

The first critically ill patient admitted to our hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, during the COVID-19 pandemic was co-infected with HIV and SARS-CoV-2. Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) and other respiratory opportunistic infections share many clinical features with severe COVID-19. Our understanding of the nuances of co-management of HIV and COVID-19 is evolving. We describe the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges presented by this case.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
COVID-19
COVID-19 Testing
Clinical Laboratory Techniques*
Coinfection
Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis*
Diagnosis, Differential
HIV Infections / complications*
Humans
Male
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / diagnosis*
Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis*
South Africa