Why Do People With HIV Take TMP/SMX?
TMP/SMX is used for many bacterial infections. It is effective and inexpensive. Unfortunately, up to one third of the people who take it get an allergic reaction. Many germs live in our bodies or are common in our surroundings. A healthy immune system can fight them off or keep them under control. However, HIV infection can weaken the immune system. Infections that take advantage of weakened immune defenses are called “opportunistic infections.” People with advanced HIV disease can get opportunistic infections. See Fact Sheet 500 for more information on Opportunistic Infections. One opportunistic infection in people with HIV is PCP. This stands for pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, which affects the lungs. See Fact Sheet 515 for more information on PCP. People who have a T-cell count of less than 200 may develop PCP. TMP/SMX is the first choice to treat or prevent PCP. If your CD4 cell count is below 200, ask your health care provider if you should be taking TMP/SMX or another drug to pr
