HIV Flashcards
What is HIV?
A retrovirus that infects and replicates in CD4+ T-cells and macrophages.
This leads to progressive immune system dysfunction, opportunistic infection and malignancy = AIDS.
How is the virus transmitted?
Blood
Sexual fluids
Breast milk
Virus subtypes of HIV.
HIV1 global epidemic
HIV2 less pathogenic and predominantly West Africa
Explain pathophysiology of HIV.
HIV binds via its GP120 envelope glycoprotein to CD4 receptors on helper T cells, monocytes and macrophages.
These CD4 cells migrate to lymphoid tissue where the virus replicates.
They are released and in turn infect other CD4 cells.
As infection progresses there is depletion and impaired function of CD4 cells leading to impairment of immune function.
HIV encodes via reverse transcriptase which is very error prone and leading to treatment resistance.
Give ways of preventing HIV.
Preventing sexual transmission
Post-exposure prophylaxis
Pre-exposure prophylaxis
Preventing vertical transmission
Prevention of sexual transmission of HIV.
Condoms
Serosorting if unprotected sex (not very reliable)
Explain post-exposure prophylaxis of HIV.
Short-term use of ARVs after potential HIV exposure.
It can be given up to 72h after exposure.
1st line PEP in UK is Truvada (a mix of tenofovir and emtricitabine) and raltegravir for 28 days.
Test for HIV 8-12 weeks after exposure
Explain pre-exposure prophylaxis of HIV.
ARV treatment at high risk of acquiring HIV such as serodifferent relationships without suppression of viral load, and condomless anal sex in MSM.
Explain prevention of vertical transmission.
All pregnant women with HIV should have commenced ARVs by 24 weeks gestation.
Caesarean delivery is indicated if the viral load > 50 copies/mL.
Neonatal PEP is given from birth to 4ks of age with formula-feeding.
Presentation of early primary HIV infection.
80% are symptomatic typically 2-4 weeks after infection.
Flu-like symptoms and an erythematous/maculopapular rash.
Fever, rash, myalgia, pharyngitis, mucosal ulceration, lymphadenopathy and headache/aseptic meningitis.
HIV testing should be offered to anyone regardless of their risk if they show with the symptoms above.
Explain persistant generalised lymphadenopathy in primary HIV infection.
Swollen/enlarged lymph nodes > 1cm in two or more non-contiguous sites persisting for over 3 months.
Explain the HIV testing protocol.
Any doctor can consent for a HIV test.
Explain the benefits of testing and detail how results will be given.
Written consent is unnecessary.
Arrange a follow-up with a local HIV/GUM service within 2 weeks for patients testing positive for the first time.
You do not have to explicitly ask for permission to test for HIV.
Give ways of testing for HIV.
ELISA for HIV antibody and antigen
Rapid point-of-care testing
Viral load
Nucleic acid testing/viral PCR
CD4 count
Explain ELISA testing.
Tests for HIV antibody and p24 antigen.
This reduces the window period (aka the time of false-negatives between infection and the production of measurable antigen/antibody) to average around 10 days.
Diagnosis in UK is then confirmed by a confirmatory assay.
Explain rapid point-of-care testing.
Immunoassay kit which gives a rapid result from a finger-prick or mouth swab.
Only “CE”-marked kits should be used.
Serological confirmation is needed as well.
Explain viral load testing.
This gives a quantification of the HIV RNA.
It is also used to monitor the response to ARVs.
It is not diagnostic due to the possibility of false-positives.
Explain nucleic acid testing/PCR.
Qualitative testing for the presence of viral RNA.
IT is used to test for vertical transmission in neonates as placental transfer of maternal antibodies can affect ELISA antibody testing up to 18 months of age.
Explain CD4 count as testing for HIV.
This cannot diagnose HIV.
IT is used to monitor immune system function and disease progression in patients with HIV.
<200 cells/mcgL is one of the defining criteria of AIDS.
Prevention of needle stick injury in a patient with HIV.
Use safer sharps
Do not recap unprotected medical sharps
When using sharps, ensure there is a disposal container nearby.
Risk of HIV transmission from needle-stick injury from a patient with HIV not on ARVs.
1 in 300
Management of needle stick injury exposed to HIV.
Ecnourage the wound to bleed, ideally under running water.
Wash with soap and running water, do not scrub.
Seek advice from occy health and infection control regarding source testing and post-exposure prophylaxis.
How can complications of HIV be classified?
Into complications of immune dysfunction
Complicating comorbidity
Complications of treatment
Opportunistic disease in HIV.
Pneumocystis jirovecii
Candidiasis
Cryptococcus neoformans
Toxoplasma gondii
CMV
Cryptosporidium
Kaposi’s sarcoma
Lymphoma
Presentation of pneumocystis jirovecii in HIV.
Progressive SOB on extertion along with malaise and dry cough.
Haemoptysis and pleuritic pain is rare.
On examination there is increased resp rate and often normal breath sounds.
Investigations of pneumocystis jirovecii in HIV.
SpO2
CXR shows classically perihilar infiltrates but may be normal.
Induced sputum or BAL with staining or nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT).
Treatment of pneumocystis jirovecii in HIV.
IV co-trimoxazole 21 day course
Steroids in moderate to severe disease
2nd line: clindamycin, pentamidine, atovaquone.
Prophylaxis can be done with co-trixomazole if the patient has a CD4 count <200 cells/microlitre
Explain candidiasis in HIV infection.
Oral or oesophageal
There might be pain in the tongue, dysphagia and odynophagia.
It is diagnosed clinically or endoscopically.
IT is the treated with systemic -azoles like fluconazole
What is the most common systemic fungal infection in HIV.
Cryptococcus neoformans
Around 5-10% of people without ARV treatment will experience this.
Presentation of Cryptococcus neoformans in HIV.
Meningitis, headache, fever.
Might have molluscum-like papules and lung disease.
Investigations of Cryptococcus neoformans in HIV.
LP with manometry
CSF stain for CSF/blood cryptococcal antigen
Treatment of Cryptococcus neoformans in HIV.
Induction with liposomal amphotericin B (beware AKI and renal tubular damage)
Flucytosine might be beneficial in patients not on ARV therapy.
Maintenance treatment should then be with fluconazole and normalise the ICP with repeat LPs or a shunt if needed.