Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Question 1

What type of Virus causes HIV?

Answer 1

Lentivirus

Question 2

What is a Lentivirus?

Answer 2

A retrovirus characterized by long incubation periods

Question 3

How many types of HIV are there?

Answer 3

Two

Question 4

Which type of HIV is the most common in the United States

Answer 4

HIV-1

Question 5

Which type of HIV is the most common in Africa?

Answer 5

HIV-2

Question 6

Over time, what does HIV progress into?

Answer 6

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency)

Question 7

Is HIV an acute or chronic disease?

Answer 7

Chronic

Question 8

What population(s) is most commonly infected with HIV?

Answer 8

Gay and bisexual men

Question 9

What ethnicity is most commonly infected with HIV?

Answer 9

African Americans

Question 10

In order, what are the 4 stages of an HIV infection?

Answer 10

1. Exposure/acute infection
2. Asymptomatic infection
3. Symptomatic infection
4. Aids

Question 11

Approximately how many days will it take for an antibody test to be positive for an HIV infection?

Answer 11

25 days on average, can be up to 3 months

Question 12

During which stage is an individual with HIV most likely to infect someone else?

Answer 12

Acute infection stage

Question 13

What symptoms present 2 to 6 weeks post exposure?

Answer 13

Flu-like symptoms, FEVER rash, fatigue, headache, pharyngitis, myalgia, arthralgia, mucocutaneous ulceration, generalized lymphadenopathy

Question 14

How many people with an HIV infection experience the acute infection phase?

Answer 14

2/3

Question 15

What is the average CD4 count in a healthy adult?

Answer 15

800 to 1100

Question 16

At what stage do the CD4 levels in an HIV infected individual drop?

Answer 16

Asymptomatic

Question 17

How long does the asymptomatic period of HIV last?

Answer 17

Could be as short as a few months, but 11 years is the median

Question 18

AIDS is classified when the CD4 count falls below what number?

Answer 18

200

Question 19

What is the initial screening test for HIV?

Answer 19

ELISA (Enyzme linked immunosorbent assay)

Question 20

What is the confirmatory test for HIV?

Answer 20

Western Blot

Question 21

When paired together, are the ELISA test and Western Blot test reliable?

Answer 21

Yes, VERY reliable

Question 22

If a patient doesn’t like his/her blood drawn, what HIV test could you administer?

Answer 22

Orasure HIV 1 Oral Specimen

Question 23

Which HIV test can detect infection within 11 days of exposure, and is typically used with newborns and high risk individuals?

Answer 23

RNA or Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT)

Question 24

Which two variables are most important when deciding the treatment plan for HIV infected individuals?

Answer 24

CD4 count and Viral Load

Question 25

Who does the CDC recommend to get tested for HIV?

Answer 25

Patients 13 to 64 years in all health care settings, at least once a lifetime

Question 26

If someone is diagnosed with HIV, what steps, as a clinician, should you take?

Answer 26

1. Get a detailed medical/vaccination history
2. Perform a good physical exam
3. Screen for other STI’s
4. Look at antibody testing/opportunistic infections
5. Get baseline CD4 count and Viral Load

Question 27

As soon as someone is diagnosed with HIV, what treatment is recommended?

Answer 27

Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART)

Question 28

If used early on, are antiretrovirals effective?

Answer 28

Yes, if patient is compliant with medications

Question 29

If your partner has HIV, what can you do to decrease the likelihood of becoming infected?

Answer 29

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (Truvada)

Question 30

What type of opportunistic infections can occur as a result of HIV?

Answer 30

1. Bacterial
2. Fungal
3. Viral
4. Parasitic/Protozoa

Question 31

How is HIV transmitted?

Answer 31

1. Sexual contact
2. IDU (injection drug use)
3. Vertical (mom to baby) (breastfeeding)