31. HIV Flashcards
this is the virus responsible for causing AIDS
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)
if someone has a CD4 < 200, or >200 with an AIDS-indicator condition; the most advanced stage of a HIV infection
AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) -> more proper to say “advanced HIV infection”
infection caused by organisms that are not normally pathogenic in an immunocompetent patient, therefore only happens in immunosuppressed people
opportunistic infection
this is a helper T-cell and is the primary target for an HIV infection
CD4
this is a measure of the amount of HIV viral RNA measured in the blood; reported as copies/mL
viral load
how many copies/mL of viral load is considered “undetectable”
< 20 copies/mL
explain the 95-95-95 commitment Canada has enrolled in to end the HIV epidemic
95% of the people living with HIV are diagnosed
95% of those diagnosed are on treatment
95% of those on treatment have a suppressed viral load
what are some social factors that may be related to HIV transmission
- substance abuse (especially injecting)
- trauma
- mental health issues
how is HIV transmitted?
infectious body fluids
what is the main body fluid that HIV can be transmitted through
Blood
what are some other body fluids that HIV may be transmitted through
- semen/vaginal fluids
- CSF, synovial, amniotic
true or false: HIV can be transmitted through urine, sweat, and tears
false - only if they contain visible blood
true or false: HIV is commonly seen in North America
false
what is the main population type that HIV is seen in
gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men
what populations is HIV on the rise in
females and people who inject drugs
what are some indications for HIV testing (with informed consent)
- an individual requests a test
- pregnancy
- sexually active and never been tested
- protected sex or use of shared drug equipment with a partner who is HIV positive or unknown status
- signs or symptoms of acute HIV infection
- illness associated with a compromised immune system
- someone with TB
- someone who has been sexually assaulted
what is the gold standard HIV test
blood test that tests for HIV antibodies and p24 antigen
this refers to the time that someone can get a false negative on a HIV test
window period
what is the window period of the gold standard HIV test
10 days - 4 weeks
what should be done if someone who has a high suspicion that they may have contracted HIV gets a negative result on gold standard HIV test within the window period
they should be retested outside the window period
true or false: POCT for HIV can be used to diagnose HIV
false - only used for screening; therefore if POCT is reactive, then needs to be confirmed with standard test as well because POCT only tests for antibodies
what is the window period of POCT for HIV
1-3 months
true or false: when someone becomes infected with HIV, their viral load and CD4 count increases immediately
false - viral load increases and CD4 decreases
true or false: when someone with HIV is started on ART (anti-retroviral therapy) their viral load starts to decrease and their CD4 count starts to increase
true