HIV Flashcards
What type of body cell does HIV invade?
T cells (CD4)
What is the etiologic agent of AIDS?
HIV
Who discovered HIV?
Luc Montagnier of France and Robert Gallo of the US
Is HIV an RNA or DNA virus?
RNA
What type of family does HIV belong to?
Retrovirus
Which strain of HIV is most common?
1
CD4 Lymphocytes are the primary target of HIV, but what other cells could be infected?
Monocyte/macrophages
HIV limits the body’s ability to fight infection due to markedly reduced helper T cells, why is this so dangerous?
Patients have a very weak immune system
What can lead to death in patients with HIV?
Patients are predisposed to multiple opportunistic infections leading to death
What is the criteria for diagnosis with AIDS?
Positive HIV serology who have ever had a CD4 lymphocyte count below 200 cells/mcL or a CD4 lymphocyte percentage below 14%
How many sides does the HIV virus have? Is it enveloped or non-enveloped?
20 (icosahedral)
Enveloped
What do retroviruses do?
Transcribe RNA to DNA
How many strands of RNA are found in the core of the HIV virus? What are they surrounded by?
2 surrounded by protein outer coat
What are the modes of transmission of HIV?
Sexual Vertical Parenteral Trasnfusion Nosocomial
How many people are living with HIV or AIDS? How many in America?
40 million worldwide
900,000 to 1 million in US
Where is HIV prevalence/Newly infected cases of HIV the highest?
Sub-Saharan Africa #1
South/south-east Asia #2
Symptoms of the primary stage (stage 1) of HIV
Short, flu-like illness occurs one to six weeks after infection
- Mild symptoms
Which stage of HIV is free from symptoms? How long does it last?
Stage 2 - asymptomatic phase
Lasts for an average of 10 years
Is HIV detectable in the blood during the asymptomatic phase? What about HIV antibodies?
The level of HIV in the blood drops to low levels, but HIV antibodies are detectable
What causes HIV symptoms to finally appear?
Destruction of large numbers of CD4 cells after a period of latency
When is an HIV infected person at risk for opportunistic infections?
Once CD4 drops below 500
Which diseases are predictive of the progression to AIDS?
Persistent shingles
Thrush
Oral hairy leukoplakia
Kaposi’s sarcoma
What stage is it when the immune system deteriorates and opportunistic infections and cancers start to appear
Stage 3 - symptomatic phase
What stage does HIV become AIDS as the immune system weakens too much and CD4 cells decrease in #?
Stage 4
What are some opportunistic infections associated with HIV CD4 less than 500? (AIDS suggestive)
Bacterial infections TB Herpes simplex/zoster Vaginal candidiasis Hairy leukoplakia Kaposi's sarcoma
What are some opportunistic infections associated with AIDS with a CD4 count less than 200?
Pneumocystic Carinii Toxoplasmosis Cryptococcosis Coccodiodomycosis Cryptosporiosis Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
How do you diagnose HIV?
Antibody testing (ELISA/Western blot, Rapid blood/oral test, home HIV test kid)
Viral detection via culture or RNA PCR
What is the only FDA approved HIV antibody?
Orasure
Is Orasure a saliva test?
NO! Draws blood-derived fluids from the gum tissue
Viral load tests measure the amount of HIV-RNA in _____ of blood
1 mL
How often should you repeat viral load tests to monitor viral load and T-cell count?
Every 3-6 months
When do you repeat a viral load test after changing or starting antiretroviral therapy to determine the effect on the viral load?
4-6 weeks
Testing of neonates for HIV measures the ___ antigen
P24
What biochemically defines AIDS?
Having a CD4 count below 200
How many HIV diagnoses are made each year?
50,000
How often should you test someone who identifies as gay or bisexual for AIDS?
3-6 months may be beneficial
What is the Maine state law about voluntary HIV testing?
You can order a test with informed consent obtained either written or oral
What does the CDC currently recommend for testing for HIV?
4th gen HIV - 1/2 IgG/IgM/p24Ag as initial test
If multispot is positive for HIV-1, what do you do?
Order a QUANTITATIVE HIV-1 PCR
Is it better to start therapy for HIV early or later on?
Early - Earlier therapy improves long-term immune function
Can people be infected with more than one HIV strain?
Yes!
For the greatest chance of success, when must PEP begin?
At a minimum within 72 hours of exposure
Regimens must consist of ____ or more active agents from multiple medication classes
Three
Is PrEP well tolerated?
Yes!
Early HIV treatment reduces the risk of transmitting the disease to an uninfected partner by ____%
96%
