Not everyone with tuberculosis also has an HIV infection. However, people with HIV contract tuberculosis more easily as their immune system may be weakened. For this reason, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends routinely offering an HIV test to people with tuberculosis.

HIV infection is easily treatable today and the available medication is generally well tolerated. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) can suppress the replication of the HIV virus to such an extent that it is no longer detectable in the blood. This strengthens the immune system in most cases, which also supports the treatment of tuberculosis.

It is therefore important for people with tuberculosis to know their HIV status, as a possible HIV infection can be treated in a targeted manner. Thanks to modern therapies, a treated HIV infection does not have to have a negative impact on quality of life or life expectancy.