In Italy, a 30-year-old tested positive for AIDS, monkeypox and coronavirus at the same time. This is the first triple infection that has been documented in the scientific literature.
- Since January, more than 16,000 people in more than 74 countries have been affected by monkeypox.
- The Italian, who suffered from bipolar disorder, said he was treated for syphilis in 2019.
- The patient had received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine and had already contracted Covid-19 in January 2022.
A unique case in the world. A 36-year-old Italian was simultaneously infected with the Covid-19 virus, HIV and monkeypox. This was revealed by scientists from the University of Catania in Sicily. “To date, no report of this co-infection has been published. Therefore, we present the clinical features and diagnostic procedure of the first documented case of co-infection with monkeypox virus, SARS-CoV- 2 and HIV”, they wrote in an article in the journal Journal of Infection.
Symptoms suggestive of Covid-19 and monkey pox
In this report, the researchers indicated that this triple infection was discovered after the patient returned from a 5-day trip to Spain, from June 16 to 20. Nine days after his stay, he suffered from fever, sore throat and headache, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.
On July 2, he tested positive for coronavirus. On the same day, a rash developed on his left arm. The next day, small painful blisters appeared on his chest, legs, face and buttocks. On July 5, he decided to go to the emergency room of the hospital in Catania, as he was increasingly ill. “He was transferred to the infectious disease unit”, the team said. Upon admission, the 30-year-old said he had unprotected sex with other men while in Spain.
Sotrovimab, the treatment taken by the patient
Due to the symptoms and information given by the Sicilian, doctors suspected a case of monkeypox. So they decided to screen for this infectious disease and the most common STIs. The verdict is in: the patient’s samples were positive for monkeypox virus. “Serological tests for viral hepatitis, herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia and lymphogranuloma venereum came back negative. However, that for HIV came back positive,” specified the authors.
Three days after her admission, almost all of the skin lesions began to scab over. Practitioners gave the Sicilian Sotrovimab, a monoclonal antibody administered intravenously, to treat monkeypox. By July 9, the majority of her symptoms were gone. However, the 30-year-old was still positive for Covid-19 and monkeypox, but was able to return home and had to self-isolate. “On July 19, 2022, a triple combination of dolutegravir, abacavir and lamivudine was prescribed to treat HIV,” can we read in the report.
There is no evidence that co-infection worsens symptoms
“Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of co-infection with SARS-CoV-2 and monkeypox virus, particularly in subjects with recent travel to areas where monkeypox has been reported. If monkeypox is suspected, an oropharyngeal swab should be performed.(…) Our case highlights that sexual intercourse could be the predominant mode of transmission. Therefore, comprehensive STI screening is recommended after a diagnosis of monkeypox. As it This is the only reported case of co-infection with monkeypox virus, SARS-CoV-2 and HIV, there is not yet enough evidence to say that this combination can worsen the patient’s condition”concluded the doctors.
