Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Flashcards
What type of Virus causes HIV?
Lentivirus
What is a Lentivirus?
A retrovirus characterized by long incubation periods
How many types of HIV are there?
Two
Which type of HIV is the most common in the United States
HIV-1
Which type of HIV is the most common in Africa?
HIV-2
Over time, what does HIV progress into?
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency)
Is HIV an acute or chronic disease?
Chronic
What population(s) is most commonly infected with HIV?
Gay and bisexual men
What ethnicity is most commonly infected with HIV?
African Americans
In order, what are the 4 stages of an HIV infection?
- Exposure/acute infection
- Asymptomatic infection
- Symptomatic infection
- Aids
Approximately how many days will it take for an antibody test to be positive for an HIV infection?
25 days on average, can be up to 3 months
During which stage is an individual with HIV most likely to infect someone else?
Acute infection stage
What symptoms present 2 to 6 weeks post exposure?
Flu-like symptoms, FEVER rash, fatigue, headache, pharyngitis, myalgia, arthralgia, mucocutaneous ulceration, generalized lymphadenopathy
How many people with an HIV infection experience the acute infection phase?
2/3
What is the average CD4 count in a healthy adult?
800 to 1100
At what stage do the CD4 levels in an HIV infected individual drop?
Asymptomatic
How long does the asymptomatic period of HIV last?
Could be as short as a few months, but 11 years is the median
AIDS is classified when the CD4 count falls below what number?
200
What is the initial screening test for HIV?
ELISA (Enyzme linked immunosorbent assay)
What is the confirmatory test for HIV?
Western Blot
When paired together, are the ELISA test and Western Blot test reliable?
Yes, VERY reliable
If a patient doesn’t like his/her blood drawn, what HIV test could you administer?
Orasure HIV 1 Oral Specimen
Which HIV test can detect infection within 11 days of exposure, and is typically used with newborns and high risk individuals?
RNA or Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT)
Which two variables are most important when deciding the treatment plan for HIV infected individuals?
CD4 count and Viral Load
Who does the CDC recommend to get tested for HIV?
Patients 13 to 64 years in all health care settings, at least once a lifetime
If someone is diagnosed with HIV, what steps, as a clinician, should you take?
- Get a detailed medical/vaccination history
- Perform a good physical exam
- Screen for other STI’s
- Look at antibody testing/opportunistic infections
- Get baseline CD4 count and Viral Load
As soon as someone is diagnosed with HIV, what treatment is recommended?
Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART)
If used early on, are antiretrovirals effective?
Yes, if patient is compliant with medications
If your partner has HIV, what can you do to decrease the likelihood of becoming infected?
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (Truvada)
What type of opportunistic infections can occur as a result of HIV?
- Bacterial
- Fungal
- Viral
- Parasitic/Protozoa
How is HIV transmitted?
- Sexual contact
- IDU (injection drug use)
- Vertical (mom to baby) (breastfeeding)
