Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Related Infection in the Hand

Abstract

Chronic HIV infection is increasingly common in clinical practice, and it is necessary for clinicians to have an understanding of specific infections and know how to treat them in this patient cohort. Delayed or incomplete treatment of infection in the hand may cause irreversible stiffness and loss of function. A literature review was conducted using the databases MEDLINE, Embase, EmCare, and CINAHL. Nineteen full-text articles were used to assimilate current evidence on the nature and implications of hand and upper extremity infection in HIV individuals. The HIV patients commonly require multiple surgical episodes to establish control of infection, prolonged hospital stay, and prolonged antimicrobial therapy to establish cure. Prompt referral to the hand surgery team is vital in HIV patients with hand infections to avoid long-lasting sequelae.