Antibiotics As Lifeline For HIV Patients

By Devaki

Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 15:30

Providing antibiotics to some newly diagnosed HIV patients could save tens of thousands of patients, but the scientists do not utilize this opportunity, say researchers. The Lancet, which is an addition of the inexpensive antibiotic co-trimoxazole, can prevent the mortality rates among the HIV patients.

HIV patients are always at a greater risk in the first weeks after the diagnosis, as they are prone to a variety of infections taking advantage of their weakened immune systems. In the battle against HIV, the researchers have long been focusing on anti retroviral drugs, which can greatly extend life.

"Tens of thousands of lives can be saved by more universal use of the drug, costing just a few pence a day," say the researchers.

In addition to preventing bacterial infections in HIV patients, the drug had a welcome benefit- it cut the incidence of malaria by a quarter.