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We report the case of a 72-year-old woman who was admitted following a fall and sustained a right neck of femur fracture. Prior to this admission, she was undergoing chemotherapy for lung cancer. Upon this admission, it was noted that she had developed neutropenic sepsis. She was initially treated with teicoplanin and ciprofloxacin. However, her neutrophil count dropped further, and she continued to have a high temperature, hence her treatment was switched to meropenem. Administration of meropenem was associated with persistent and difficult-to-correct hypokalemia. The hypokalemia resolved, and potassium levels returned to normal a few days after completing the course of meropenem therapy. To our knowledge, there is a very rare association between hypokalemia and the administration of meropenem. Therefore, clinicians need to be aware of this, especially in cases of refractory hypokalemia.

Introduction: Post-menopausal women living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (WLHIV) face an increased risk of bone fractures due to the relationship between HIV-related factors and menopause. This narrative review aims to summarise the current knowledge about fracture risk among post-menopausal WLHIV in particular looking at hormonal changes, combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), lifestyle factors, and psychosocial implications. We also profiled a summary of the significant, recent studies of post-menopausal WLHIV residing in low-income countries (LIC). Methods: A thorough search of the literature was performed across PubMed, Medline, Scopus, and Google Scholar, focussing on studies published between 2000 and 2024. Inclusion criteria entailed original research, reviews, and meta-analyses addressing bone mineral density (BMD), fracture incidence, and related risk factors in post-menopausal WLHIV. Results: The review identified 223 relevant studies. Post-menopausal WLHIV exhibit significantly lower BMD and higher fracture rates compared to both HIV-negative post-menopausal women and pre-menopausal WLHIV. cART, particularly tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), contributes to reduced BMD. Menopausal status exacerbates this risk through decreased oestrogen levels, leading to increased bone resorption. Moreover, lifestyle choices such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and low physical activity are more prevalent in PWHIV, which further elevates fracture risk. Different psychosocial factors may make WLWHIV more vulnerable at this stage of their life, such as depression, isolation, stigma, and housing and nutritional issues. Women living in LICs face a variety of challenges in accessing HIV care. There are gaps in research related to the prevalence of osteoporosis and bone loss in post-menopausal WLHIV in LICs. Conclusion: Post-menopausal women living with HIV face a significantly higher risk of bone loss and fractures due to the combined effects of HIV and menopause. Antiretroviral therapy (particularly TDF), lifestyle factors, and psychosocial challenges exacerbate this risk. There is a need for careful selection of cART, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and emerging treatments such as Abaloparatide. A holistic approach including lifestyle changes and psychosocial support is crucial to reduce fracture risk in WLHIV, especially in low-income countries.

We report a case of a 72-year-old woman who developed recurrent abdominal laparotomy wound dehiscence and infection following a hepatico-jejunostomy. Her surgical history included a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) that was carried out 11 years ago. Upon further assessment in the current admission, she was found to be deficient in both selenium and zinc. Daily multivitamin and mineral tablets and a nutritional supplement drink were prescribed to address her deficiencies. After 2 months of supplementation, the laparotomy wound had made significant healing progress and no further surgical input was required. This case illustrates the importance of assessing micronutrient levels in patients with a history of bariatric surgery who present with poor wound healing and infection. Bariatric patients should also be educated about the risks of nutritional deficiencies and encouraged to adhere to prescribed dietary and lifestyle changes. Importantly, family medicine and primary care physicians need to consider an adequate level of supplementation of micronutrients in all patients with RYGB surgery.