HIV and AIDS Flashcards
Pathophysiology of HIV Infection and AIDS
HIV is a retrovirus that causes a chronic disorder of impaired immunity; HIV can progress to AIDS; Individuals with AIDS are profoundly immunocompromised
Stage 1 of HIV
- Begins with onset of acute infection responses after an initial invasion by the virus causes overt symptom
- This stage is relatively short and in most infected adults can progress over time to the HIV disease chronic stage of HIV-II
Stage 2 of HIV
Stage HIV- II is considered as the chronic HIV illness
May last for years due to current medications
First, intermittent acute infections followed by periods or relative wellness
Secondly, chronic progressive debilitation occurs
Stage 3 of HIV
Stage HIV-III is the final, most serious form of HIV known as AIDS.
Severe reduction of immunity and increased risk for cancer
May live for years before dying
Signs and Symptoms
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Rash
- Night Sweats
- Chills
- Headache
- Muscle Ache
Classification of HIV
Class 0: Patient develops a first positive HIV test result within 6 months after a negative HIV test result. CD4+ T-cell counts are usually in the normal range and no AIDS-defining condition is present.
Class 1: Patient has a CD4+ T-cell count of greater than 500 cells/mm3 (0.5 X 109/L) or a percentage of 29% or greater. No AIDS-defining illnesses are present. (HIV-I)
Class 2: Patient has a CD4+ T-cell count between 200 and 499 cells/mm3 (0.2 to 0.499 X 109/L) or a percentage between 14% and 28%. No AIDS-defining illnesses are present. (HIV-II)
Stage HIV-III
Class 3: Patient has a CD4+ T-cell count of less than 200 cells/mm3 (0.2 X 109/L) or a percentage of less than 14%. Any patient, regardless of CD4+ T-cell counts or percentages who has an AIDS-defining illness. AIDS diagnosis.
Unknown:
> Patient has a confirmed HIV infection but no information regarding CD4+ T-cell counts, CD4+ T-cell percentages, and AIDS-defining illnesses is available.
HIV Infectious Process
Stage 1:
> Develop an acute infection within 4 weeks of being infected (Flu-like symptoms)
Stage 2:
> Infected adults are diagnosed
> Appropriate drug therapy suppress viral reproduction, allowing the patient to maintain a relatively level of immunity for protection
> Because drug therapy only suppress viral reproduction and does not kill the organism, eventually many patients progress to stage 3
> Poor CD4+ T-Cell function leads too:
> Leukopenia (decreased number of circulating WBC)
> Lymphocytopenia (decreased number of lymphocytes)
> Production of incomplete and non functional antibodies
> Abnormally functioning macrophages
> At risk for bacterial, fungal, viral infections and opportunistic cancers
Stage 3:
> CD4+ T-Cell of less than 200 cells/mm3 or an opportunistic infection
HIV Progression
- The time from the beginning of HIV-I infection to HIV-III ranges from months to years depending on how HIV is acquired, other health problems, personal factors, and interventions
- When HIV results from a single sexual encounter, progression takes longer
- Personal Factors influencing time to progression include:
> Frequency of Re-exposure
> Presence of other STIs
> Nutrition status
> Stress - Infection within first four weeks of infection
> May not even consider they have HIV- just think they have a cold
> Will begin to feel better when symptom relieve, but the disease is only starting
> When viral numbers are in the bloodstream and genital tract, sexual transmission is possible - May have a few symptoms, but as progression occurs, more health problems occur
> Coughing, SOB
> Diarrhea, weight loss, N/V
> Dry skin or lesions, poor wound healing, night sweats
> Confusion, dementia, memory loss, HA, fever, visual changes, personality changes, seizures
Health Promotion and Maintenance
- HIV and AIDS cannot be cured, the continued use of antiretroviral therapy allows patients to live longer, healthier lives*
- Teach all adults about the transmission routes and ways to reduce their exposure*
- Stress that HIV is not transmitted through casual contact in the home, school, or workplace
- Sharing household utensils, towels and linens, and toilet facilities does not transmit HIV
- HIV is not spread by mosquitos or other insects
Infected Fluids with Highest HIV Concentrations
- Blood
- Semen
- Breast Milk
- Vaginal Secretions
Infected Fluids with Lowest HIV Concentration
- Tears
- Saliva
- Sweat
*Low risk for transmission unless obvious blood is present
HIV is Transmitted in Three Ways
- Sexual
- Parenteral
- Perinatal
HIV Staus
- Early diagnosis allows for early treatment and prevention, a concept known as Treatment As Prevention (TAP)
- Recommendations for HIV Screening:
> One-time screening between ages 15-65
> An annual screening for those who are at greater risk for HIV infection
> Prenatal screening
> Frequent testing in adults with repeated high-risk exposures - Testing help prevention because test can diagnose HIV infection before immunity changes or disease symptoms develop
- ALL SEXUALLY ACTIVE ADULTS SHOULD KNOW THEIR HIV STATUS
Recommendations for Annual HIV Testing and One-Time Screening
You should be tested annually for HIV if you:
- Have a sexually transmitted disease
- Use injection drugs
- Consider yourself a risk
- Are a women of child bearing age with identifiable risks including
> Used injection drugs
> Engaged in sex work
> Had sexual partners who were infected or at risk
> Had sexual contact with men from countries with high HIV prevalence - Received a blood product transfusion between 1978 and 1985
- Plan to get married
- Are undergoing medical evaluation or treatment for symptoms that may be HIV related
- Have been or are in a correctional institution such as jail and prison
- Are a sex worker or have had sex with a sex worker
- Between the age of 18-65
- As part of routine prenatal screening when you are pregnant
Sexual Tranmission
- Genital, anal, or oral sexual contact with exposure of mucous membranes to infected semen or vaginal secretions
- Abstinence or mutually monogamous sex with a noninfected partner is ONLY absolute way of preventing infection
- The risk for becoming infected from a partner with HIV positive and has a detectable viral load is always present
- Sexual Acts of Practices in which infected seminal fluid come is contact with mucous membranes or non intact skin are the most risky for sexual transmission of HIV
- Viral Load, the amount of virus present in blood and other body fluids, affects transmission
- Safe Sex Practice
- reduce instances where non-intact skin or mucous membranes come in contact with HIV-infected blood/body fluids- use latex or polyurethane condoms for both genital and anal intercourse
- use water-based lubricant with a latex condom
- use a condom or other latex barrier (dental dam) during oral-genital or oral-anal contact
- use latex gloves for finger/hand contact with a vagina or rectum
Safe Sex Practices
- Reduce instances where non-intact skin or mucous membranes come in contact with HIV-infected blood/body fluids
- Use latex or polyurethane condoms for both genital and anal intercourse
- Use water-based lubricant with a latex condom
- Use a condom or other latex barrier (dental dam) during oral-genital or oral-anal contact
- Use latex gloves for finger/hand contact with a vagina or rectum
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
- Use of HIV antiretroviral drugs by an HIV-UNINFECTED adult to prevent HIV infection
- Used for people who are at high risk for acquiring HIV infection such as:
> Men who have sex with men
> Nonmonogamous heterosexually active men and women
> Injection drug users
> Relationship in which one partner is HIV positive and one partner is HIV negative - Important to ensure the adult is HIV negative using a HIV antigen/antibody test
> Other tests include: kidney function, other test for STI, liver function, and Hep. A,B,C - After starting PrEP, ongoing testing of kidney function and HIV infection is performed q3 months because both drugs can be toxic to kidney and liver
- PrEP is not protected until 7 days of consistent dosing allows a steady-state blood drug level to be achieved
- When the initial period is completed, one dose can be missed and protection is still adequate
- If two consecutively missed doses greatly reduce protection and the patient needs to start over with another 7-day lead in period until the new steady state is achieved before being sexually active.