The clinical management of gastrointestinal opportunistic infections 2020 (2022 interim update)
BHIVA guidelines on the management of opportunistic infection in people living with HIV:
The clinical management of gastrointestinal opportunistic infections 2020 (2022 interim update)
Introduction
Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms occur frequently in people living with HIV. Dysphagia and diarrhoea may be caused by a wide variety of infections. Symptoms may arise from any part of the GI tract including the mouth, throat, oesophagus, stomach, small and large intestine, liver, gall bladder, rectum and anus. The incidence of opportunistic infections has fallen as most people with HIV take combination antiretroviral therapy, however there remain some differences in type of pathology seen compared to non-HIV-positive populations, and opportunistic infections may still occur in those with higher CD4 counts. If a cause of persisting GI symptoms is not apparent, consultation with a gastroenterologist is indicated because people with HIV are also susceptible to many of the same conditions as the non-HIV-infected population.
The previous BHIVA/BIA guidelines for the treatment of opportunistic infection 2011 are being updated chapter by chapter using the same general methodology; this chapter provides guidance on the clinical management of GI opportunistic infections.
The 2020 BHIVA guidelines for the management of opportunistic infection in people living with HIV: The clinical management of gastrointestinal opportunistic infections were updated in 2022. All changes are highlighted.
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Additional information
General methodology
Supporting people living with HIV and opportunistic infections
Consultation comments
Comments received by the BHIVA Secretariat during the public consultation process
Declaration of interests
Declaration of interests from writing group members
Non-technical summary
Please note: The non-technical summary is less detailed than the full guideline and if you are reading this because it is relevant to your own healthcare, please do discuss any concerns or questions with your healthcare professionals.
Writing group
Dr David Chadwick (Chair), Dr Rebecca Sutherland, Dr Sonia Raffe, Dr Erica Pool, Dr Mike Beadsworth
UK-CAB (community) members are involved in the writing and/or proofreading of each chapter, and where not listed as authors are the UK-CAB members of the Guidelines Subcommittee.
Peer review
The guidelines were peer reviewed by Dr Samuel Mills, Oxford University Hospitals, and Dr Ed Moran, Southmead Hospital, Bristol.
Guideline updates and date of next review
The guidelines are scheduled for full review by 2025.
Reference
Chadwick DR, Sutherland RK, Raffe S et al. British HIV Association guidelines on the management of opportunistic infection in people living with HIV: the clinical management of gastrointestinal opportunistic infections 2020. HIV Med 2020; 21 Suppl 5:1-19.