HIV/AIDs Flashcards
What are the ways HIV can be spread?
Sexual transmission Injection drug misuse Blood products Vertical transmission Organ transplant
Can an unconscious patient be tested for HIV?
Yes, if it is in the patients best interests
How can HIV be tested?
POC testing (blood)
What cells does HIV infect & destroy in the immune system?
CD4 cells
Over the course of the infection, what can be observed?
Decrease in CD4 count
Increase viral load
As HIV infection progresses, what are you more susceptible to?
Oppurtunistic infection
Tumours
When do most AIDs infections occur?
At CD4 count <200
How many different stages of disease are there?
4
What are some of the most common opportunistic infections observed in HIV patients?
Thrush PJP TB Lymphoma Cryptococcal meningitis
What is the difference between HIV & AIDs?
Asymptomatic - HIV
AIDs = severe infection
What is the timeline of infection observed?
Acute infection (seroconversion) Asymptomatic HIV related illnesses AIDs defining illnesses Death
What is a seroconversion illness?
This is when the HIV antibodies develop (similar to flu-like symptoms)
Typical of acute HIV infection
What are some of the symptoms of seroconversion?
Flu-like illness Fever Malaise & lethargy Pharyngitis Lymphadenopathy Toxic exanthema
What infection is associated with late stage AIDS infection?
PJP (Pneumocystis pneumonia)
What investigations would you do in suspected PJP?
CXR
Sputum or bronchoscopy (PCR)
What is the treatment for PJP?
Cotrimoxazole
Pentamidine
What are the classes of antiviral drugs available?
AZT, DDI, DDC, 3TC, D4T
What is antiretroviral therapy?
Combination antiretorviral therapy (cART) means at least 3 drugs from 2 groups
Acts at different stages of lifecycle
Where do antiviral treatments work?
Reverse transcriptase inhibitors
Integrase inhibitor
Protease inhibitor
When do patients start treatment?
At point of diagnosis
In pregnancy, when should antivirals be taken?
Before 3rd trimester
What can be done to assess the sensitivity of drugs to HIV infection?
Resistance testing
What are some of the causes of incomplete suppression of viral load?
Inadequate potency
Inadequate drug levels
Inadequate adherence
Pre-exisiting resistance
What are some of the side effects of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors?
Neuropathy
Lipodystrophy
What are some of the side effects of protease inhibitors?
diarrhoea
lipodystrophy
hyperlipidaemia
What are some of the side effects of integrase inhibitors?
Rashes
Disrupted sleep
What are some of the mechanisms of HIV prevention?
Behaviour change/ condoms
Treatment as prevention (low VL = untransmissable)
PrEP
PEPSE
