Week 2 Flashcards
Which bodily fluids are capable of transmitting HIV?
blood, spinal fluid, pleural fluid, pus, semen, vaginal secretions, amniotic fluid, pericardial fluid, synovial fluid
Which bodily fluids are not capable of transmitting HIV?
urine, feces, saliva, nasal secretions, gastric fluid, sputum, tears, sweat, vomitus
HIV is what type of virus?
retrovirus
What type of exposure carries the highest risk of acquiring HIV?
vertical transmission [24%] followed by receptive anal intercourse [1-2%]
Who gets HIV overwhelmingly in the US compared to another group?
In the US more men than women are living with HIV/AIDS
Which race/ethnicity are overwhelmingly diagnosed with HIV? Note the differences between men and women
Men: African-Americans, White and Hispanic Latino each take up about a third
Women: 60% African-American, 19% Hispanic/latino, and 17% White
How is HIV transmitted among males and females [transmission with the highest percent]?
Men: 80% of HIV cases were transmitted via male-to-male sexual contact
Women: 85% of HIV cases were transmitted via heterosexual contact
True or False: Do you have HIV if you have AIDS?
True
True or False: Do you have AIDS if you have HIV?
False
What does AIDS stand for?
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
How is someone diagnosed with AIDS?
They need to have one of the following:
- CD4 T cell count less than 200cells/uL
- CD4 T cell percentage of total lymphocytes less than 15%
- One of the AIDS defining illnesses
What are the AIDS defining illnesses?
more than 25 conditions…including esophageal candidiasis, Kaposi’s sarcoma, and pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia [PJP]
How do we test for HIV/AIDS?
We can test for HIV-RNA, p24 antigen [capsid], and we can test for antibodies
At what time points do we use the different tests?
HIV RNA is the earliest thing we can test for, followed by p24 antigen about 1-2 weeks post infections [test positive 22-3 weeks], followed by antibodies 35 days post infection [1st generation];
Define seroconversion
l
What is the window-period of an HIV infection?
period where it’s difficult to diagnose the disease. the serology is not yet positive. it is about 2-3 weeks
How can the HIV infection window be decreased?
It can be decreased by detecting the capsid [p24 antigen]
When do antibodies appear in the blood during an HIV infection?
3-4 weeks
Describe the 4th generation HIV test.
Ab/Ag test. Combines HIV antigen test and an antibody test. If anyone of these turns positive than it is a positive result
What is the typical first test for diagnosing HIV? Describe it.
The HIV 1 and 2 Ab EIA test. It can be read in 20minutes.Oral test; high sensitivity and high specificity. Detects the amount of HIV IgG in saliva. This test has greater than 99% agreement with Western Blot. However, this has to be 3-4 weeks after the time of exposure.
Which test allows you to test for HIV antibody and antigen at the same time?
ELISA [enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay]
What is the confirmatory test for HIV diagnosis?
Western Blot! Detects antibody against viral peptides that have been separated by electrophoresis and blotted
What is the common course of diagnostic tests?
- rapid test [like oral]
- ELISA [can be combo]
- confirmatory test [WB]
What is the ultrasensitive technique for diagnosing HIV?
HIV RNA detection via PCR
Describe HIV primary infection [AKA acute retroviral syndrome]. Is this primary infection self-limiting?
Occurs 2-6 weeks after HIV infection and patients develop flu-like illness. Symptoms include fever, swollen glands, sore throat, rash, and muscle aches. Symptoms occur in 30-90% of newly infected patients. Median duration of symptoms is 12-28 days.
Yes, this infection is self-limiting.
Describe HIV asymptomatic infection
clinical latency, no symptoms of disease
Describe HIV early symptomatic infection
lymph nodes burnt out; more T cell destruction. opportunistic infections
What is the level of infection called after early symptomatic infection?
AIDS [advanced immunodeficiency with opportunistic infections/cancers
What form of treatment has allowed HIV patients to have longer life expectancies?
anti-retroviral therapies
