The Intern At Work: Internal Medicine 200. A Window of Opportunity: Preventing and Treating HIV Opportunistic Infections
12 snips
Jun 27, 2023 AI Snips
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Episode notes
HIV As Security System Saboteur
- HIV disables immune 'alarms', leaving patients vulnerable to opportunistic infections.
- Opportunistic infections exploit HIV-mediated immunosuppression across bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
CD4 Depletion Explains OI Risk
- HIV integrates into CD4 cells and progressively depletes them, weakening cellular immunity.
- Lower CD4 counts strongly correlate with greater risk and severity of opportunistic infections.
Start With ABCs And HIV Context
- Begin every evaluation with ABCs and vital signs, and call ICU early if the patient is unstable.
- Review recent CD4 count and viral load to contextualize symptoms and refine your differential diagnosis.