Evidence

People living with HIV are at greater risk of developing prolonged illness due to COVID-19 leading to longer duration of virus shedding owing to their underlying immune defects. This study compares the development of COVID-19 infection in two healthcare workers at the same time; one living with and another living without HIV history. They  were both working in the same ward of a tertiary care hospital in North India. The immunocompromised healthcare worker reported a higher viral load as compared to the immunocompetent patient. This preliminary case report also observes that no difference was found in the clinical presentation of both patients at the time of diagnosis. This review concludes that further studies are required to investigate COVID-19 susceptibility and severity among HIV-infected patients. It also outlines precautions to be observed by those HIV patients who have not yet been vaccinated. It is a useful resource for those working with HIV patients. Click here to read the study.