Glossary

icterus – medical term for jaundice (yellowing skin)

coinfection – having more than one infection, eg HIV and TB, or HIV and hepatitis C.

cancer – disease caused by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells.

baseline – baseline refers to the start of any period being studied. For someone who is HIV positive, their baseline CD4 and viral load counts are the first tests they ever had taken. For someone entering a study, the baseline results refer to their test results at the start of the study. Baseline results for following resistance refers to the results of the first resistance test.

cotrimoxazole is combination two antibiotics (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole). Tradenames include Septrin and Bactrim.

Abbreviations for this combination include SXT, TMP-SMX, TMP-SMZ or TMP-sulfa.

Cotrimoxazole is commonly used in HIV care as a prophylaxis against PCP and toxoplasmosis. Everyone with a CD4 count that is less than 200 cells/mm³ need to also take cotrimoxazole until their CD4 count becomes higher.

Different guidelines recommend continuing with cotrimoxazole at different CD4 counts, depending on which country you live in. Sometimes this is at 100, 200, 350 or sometimes higher.

After being on effective ART for 3 to 6 months, cotrimoxazole can be stopped after the CD4 count increases to above 100 cells/mm³. This is only if they have never had PCP. Anyone who has previously had PCP, it is recommended to continue until the CD4 count is above 200 cells/mm³. This is based on EACS guidelines (v11.1, October 2022).

In countries with high risk of malaria or severe bacterial infections, prophylaxis should continue, irrespective of CD4 count on ART. There are also different recommendations for children and in other specific circumstances. (WHO consolidated guidelines, 2021)

See PCP and toxoplasmosis sections of the training manual.