Re-infection with HIV

[way.out.west]

This topic has almost certainly come up before, but I’ve searched back a few pages in “Living with HIV” and haven’t found anything.

As I understand it, dual-infection can occur during seroconversion, while re-infection (although extremely rare), can occur during a window period which begins after seroconversion and ends around the 3rd year that you’ve had HIV.  In the isolated cases where re-infection seems to have occurred, the individuals were not taking meds.  That makes me wonder if meds act to prevent re-infection.

I believe there is a study now underway to look at the possibility of re-infection in couples where both have HIV.  But the results aren’t yet out.

Does anyone have a different understanding, belief, or experience regarding HIV re-infection, or is there some scientific material you can direct me to?

[Oceanbeach]

Hey West,

This is a very good question and others will have some data or experiences in re-infection.  I was diagnosed 13 years ago, did not start meds until almost 11 years ago with my AIDS diagnosis and hospitalization w/ PCP.

During my initial diagnosis meeting (HIV), I asked the question,  "Since I am no longer the "Tight End" in the game and have become the "Wide Receiver" , is it still important that my "team mates" still use safety equipment, since I was already HIV+?"

The answer was, re-infections can happen any time, it is like throwing more wood on a fire.  Then, they provided a long list of STD's which could also be passed to me and further impact the quality of my life.  I took that information as the gospel truth.  A few years later, I moved to another community and met new friends.  In my new community, I met a friend named Rick (who also had HIV/AIDS).  Rick met someone whom he chose to grow old with and was also living with HIV.  Rick died of Hep C co-infection which was passed by this new "love of his life".   This person was not in attendance at the funeral or the memorial service but I saw him last week in the supermarket.  Have the best day
Michael

[J.R.E.]

Hello ,

Click on the following link, Theres plenty of info to read :

http://qa.hopkins-aids.org/forum/search_result.html?section_id=61&keywords=reinfection



Ray

[Central79]

I think the basic thing here is that superinfection is not really well understood- what happens, how it happens, when it's likely to happen and what effects it is likely to have when it does happen - although catastrophic resistance to drugs is one scenario.

I am not aware of any documented cases of superinfection in somebody who has been infected longer than 4 years. That's not to say it doesn't happen, IMHO - after you've had HIV for a few years, a doctor might put down resistance to a drug to the HIV mutating naturally. I certainly think that meds are likely to reduce the risk of superinfection - it's like constantly taking PEP.

So it's largely an unknown. I totally agree with Sonomabeach on this though - there's a bunch of other stuff you can get. It's a fact that HIV+ people often present atypically with something like syphilis, and are not as responsive to treatment. Any STD can cause your T-cells to tank and be yet another thing your body has to fight.

I guess Sonoma's story of Rick is pretty illustrative...

M.

[ACinKC]

Here we go again!

[ACinKC]

If i were not married and still single slutting myself out, it wouldnt be the HIV re-infection that scared me the most.  Its the other STD's which would cause me to be more careful.  Syphillis was WAY worse for me so far.  But I am a newbie, so take that with a grain of salt.

[way.out.west]

Thanks, everyone, for responding.  This information has been helpful.  I hadn't considered the possible transmission of Hep C or syphilis.

[ACinKC]

Just an FYI west, you might want to start a new thread and tell us all a little bit about yourself.  Good to put a story with the screenname.

[woodshere]

Its the other STD's which would cause me to be more careful. 

No shit.  Last weekend I attended a retreat and safe sex and STDs were discussed, with pictures, unfortunately not of the sex, but the STDs.  Gives me pause to perhaps go back to using the raingear.

Woods

[sdcabincrew74]

There is no statistical proof of re-infection once one is stable on meds and is taking those meds as directed.  This comes UP all the time and there are differing opinions on all this.  Personally, sero-sorting and then going bare works for me.....but that is just me.