Infectious Diseases

Question 1

The risk of HIV transmission is equal to the risk of ….. x risk of source being …..

Answer 1

Risk per exposure x risk of source being HIV positive

Question 2

What factors increase the risk of HIV transmission?

Answer 2

• High plasma viral load
• A sexually transmissible infection esp ulcers or symptomatic gonococcal infections
• Breach in mucousal integrity (trauma, piercing, UTI)
• Penetrating or percutaneous injuries with a hollow bore needle, direct injection of HIV positive blood
• Uncircumsised status of the insertive HIV negative partner

Question 3

How effective is early antiretroviral therapy compared with delayed in HIV transmission?

Answer 3

96% relative reduction in heterosexual couples. Patients with undetectable viral load decrease transmission risk of HIV by factor of 20.