HIV and DEMENTIA

A few months ago, I sent my update of my Chapter concerning the HIV-infected health care worker off to  the American Health Lawyers Association who, in turn provided it to Reuters, the publisher of the encyclopedic legal text, Health Law Update.  Again, I emphasized the problem of dementia associated with HIV infection and the possible subtle effects of dementia on the judgment of  health care providers infected with the virus. I suggested that those with HIV who work in health care be evaluated periodically for evidence of neuro-psychological impairment to protect patients, the infected providers and the institutions in which they provide care.

Today (10/07/2011), Medline Plus (HealthDay) , from the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. National Library of Medicine issued a report by Robert Preidt describing medical research at the University of North Carolina concerning  identification of "....  two genetically distinct types of HIV in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with HIV-associated dementia...  may help explain why the risk of developing neurological difficulties increases as AIDS patients live longer, and may also help predict which patients are at greatest risk for the problem, according to the U.S. scientists."

This is an important scientific advance which may lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of  those  who are HIV-infected and, if they are health care providers, to safeguarding the people to whom they render medical care and services.