Blood borne Infections Flashcards
Define HIV: what is it? What are the main species?
HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus - Type of retrovirus which causes HIV infection and overtime AIDS if left untreated. -> No cure but can be controlled through treatment.
2 Distinct Species of HIV:
HIV1 & HIV2
Tell me about the epidemiology of HIV (Worldwide & UK)
33 Million people world wide affected by HIV
In 2014 an estimated 103,700 people with HIV in the UK.
Name some ways in which HIV can be transmitted.
- Exposure to certain bodily fluids (blood, pre-seminal fluid, rectal fluid, vaginal fluid, breast milk)
1. Sexually - Anal sex is the highest risk behaviour followed by vaginal sex. Oral sex RARELY leads to HIV transmission (lol)
- Vertical transmission: Mother to child - can occur during intrauterine life, delivery or breast feeding.
In untreated women - rate of transmission is 30% which can be reduced to <1% with intervention. - Injecting drug users: HIV can live on a used needle for up to 42 days. Sharing needles = high risk behaviour.
- Transfusion of blood products & organs i.e tissue transplants. (Rare in UK due to testing and other regulations)
Pathophysiology of HIV
- In HIV there is a loss of CD4+ T-cells and impaired cell immunity.
Clinically HIV infection undergoes 3 phases.
- Acute seroconversion.
- usually within a few weeks of initial infection and marks the period of time during which HIV antibodies develop and become detectable.
- People are extremely infectious at this stage. (Occurs in 50% of people) - Asymptomatic HIV infection
- Can last a few years to decades.
- May be asymptomatic or have a few symptoms
- If left untreated –> steady decline in CD4+ T-cells - AIDS - Final stage
- Does not occur in all patients with HIV
To be diagnosed with AIDs there be either opportunistic infections or CD4+ T-cell count is <200 cells/mm^3
There are a number of AIDS defining conditions which include:
- Kaposi Sarcoma
- Candidiasis of bronchi/trachea/lungs etc.
What is the normal range of CD4+ T-cell levels?
500-1500 cells/mm^3
Which factors need to be addressed in clinical assessment (history)? (HIV)
- risk assessment
- evidence of past seroconversion
- system enquiry
- sexual health
- PMHx
- FHx
- Sexual Hx
- Any partners or children
- Transmission risk in current job
- Use of drugs (i.e needle sharing)
How do you diagnose HIV?
Blood culture - ELISA or PCR.
Treatment of HIV?
HAART, NRTI, NNRTI, Protease inhibitors, Integrease inhibitors
Prevention of HIV?
good sexual practice, treatment of pregnant mothers, PPE.
What is the clinical presentation of HIV?
- Related to degree of immunosuppression
- Measured by monitoring Cd4+ count
- Disease progressive related to viral load. Increased viral load = faster disease progression.
–> Seroconversion phase often flu-like symptoms:
Indicator conditions
Resp: TB, HIV-associated pneumonia, histoplasmosis
Dermatalogical: Kaposi sarcoma
Opthal: CMV retinitis
Who to test for HIV?
National guidelines: All adults registering in GP practices in areas where prevalence is greater than 2 per 1,000 population.
Leading cause of death for HIV patients?
Tuberculosis
How many types of Hepatitis are there?
5 Types: A B C D E
Which types of hepatitis transferred by faecal oral route
A and E
Which types of Hepatitis can be transferred by blood or sex?
B, C and D