Essential Facts on the Go: Internal Medicine (30 page)

VII_2_a
HIV/AIDS

Retrovirus that targets T lymphocytes

Transmission:

Via blood/blood products (needle sharing, needle sticks)

Breast milk

Maternal-fetal transmission

Sexual contact (semen/vaginal secretions)

Testing: Everyone ages 13–64 y should be tested at least once; high-risk individuals should be tested yearly

HIV antibody testing: Ab production does not occur immediately, the window period for false-negative testing can be weeks to months, depending on the assay

HIV RNA viral load: will be positive in acute HIV setting

Acute HIV: offer testing in the setting of febrile flu or monolike illness

Antiretroviral therapy (ART)

CD4 < 500 or one of the following: