Although evidence indicates that undiagnosed cases of HIV are often found during routine screening in the ED, acute infections occur less often. Now, due to patients visiting the ED with symptoms similar to COVID-19 infection, patients newly infected with HIV are being diagnosed in greater numbers, according to David Pitrak, MD, of the University of Chicago. During the first 8 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, new cases of HIV infection—all diagnosed in the ED—were found at an annualized rate of 14.4 per year at Dr. Pitrak’s institution, compared with a rate of 6.8 during the previous 4 years. “An HIV test is part of the diagnostic and lab evaluation when we evaluate patients at high risk for COVID-19, or who are found to be positive for COVID-19,” said Dr. Pitrak. “It is vital to know their HIV status in the setting of such a viral illness.” The upsurge in acute HIV cases may be due to patients confusing acute HIV infection symptoms with COVID-19 symptoms and thus seeking treatment over concerns of the latter, changes in behavior precipitated by the pandemic, or disruptions in the care of people living with HIV and their partners or at-risk people using PrEP.
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Meeting Coverage
- ACC 2020The American College of Cardiology decided to cancel ACC.20/WCC due to COVID-19, which was scheduled to take place March 28-30 in Chicago. However, ACC.20/WCC Virtual Meeting continues to release cutting edge science and practice changing updates for cardiovascular professionals on demand and free through June 2020.
- ENDO: 2020ENDO 2020 Annual Conference has been canceled due to COVID-19. Here are highlights of emerging data that has still been released. Keep an eye out for ENDO Online 2020, which will take place from June 8 to 22.
- CROI 2020Every year, CROI hosts some of the world's leading experts in HIV research, who come to present exciting new data and drive forward the field of HIV/AIDS research. This year, due to COVID-19, CROI held their meeting virtually.