HIV

Question 1

What type of body cell does HIV invade?

Answer 1

T cells (CD4)

Question 2

What is the etiologic agent of AIDS?

Answer 2

HIV

Question 3

Who discovered HIV?

Answer 3

Luc Montagnier of France and Robert Gallo of the US

Question 4

Is HIV an RNA or DNA virus?

Answer 4

RNA

Question 5

What type of family does HIV belong to?

Answer 5

Retrovirus

Question 6

Which strain of HIV is most common?

Answer 6

1

Question 7

CD4 Lymphocytes are the primary target of HIV, but what other cells could be infected?

Answer 7

Monocyte/macrophages

Question 8

HIV limits the body’s ability to fight infection due to markedly reduced helper T cells, why is this so dangerous?

Answer 8

Patients have a very weak immune system

Question 9

What can lead to death in patients with HIV?

Answer 9

Patients are predisposed to multiple opportunistic infections leading to death

Question 10

What is the criteria for diagnosis with AIDS?

Answer 10

Positive HIV serology who have ever had a CD4 lymphocyte count below 200 cells/mcL or a CD4 lymphocyte percentage below 14%

Question 11

How many sides does the HIV virus have? Is it enveloped or non-enveloped?

Answer 11

20 (icosahedral)

Enveloped

Question 12

What do retroviruses do?

Answer 12

Transcribe RNA to DNA

Question 13

How many strands of RNA are found in the core of the HIV virus? What are they surrounded by?

Answer 13

2 surrounded by protein outer coat

Question 14

What are the modes of transmission of HIV?

Answer 14

Sexual
Vertical
Parenteral
Trasnfusion
Nosocomial

Question 15

How many people are living with HIV or AIDS? How many in America?

Answer 15

40 million worldwide

900,000 to 1 million in US

Question 16

Where is HIV prevalence/Newly infected cases of HIV the highest?

Answer 16

Sub-Saharan Africa #1

South/south-east Asia #2

Question 17

Symptoms of the primary stage (stage 1) of HIV

Answer 17

Short, flu-like illness occurs one to six weeks after infection
- Mild symptoms

Question 18

Which stage of HIV is free from symptoms? How long does it last?

Answer 18

Stage 2 - asymptomatic phase

Lasts for an average of 10 years

Question 19

Is HIV detectable in the blood during the asymptomatic phase? What about HIV antibodies?

Answer 19

The level of HIV in the blood drops to low levels, but HIV antibodies are detectable

Question 20

What causes HIV symptoms to finally appear?

Answer 20

Destruction of large numbers of CD4 cells after a period of latency

Question 21

When is an HIV infected person at risk for opportunistic infections?

Answer 21

Once CD4 drops below 500

Question 22

Which diseases are predictive of the progression to AIDS?

Answer 22

Persistent shingles
Thrush
Oral hairy leukoplakia
Kaposi’s sarcoma

Question 23

What stage is it when the immune system deteriorates and opportunistic infections and cancers start to appear

Answer 23

Stage 3 - symptomatic phase

Question 24

What stage does HIV become AIDS as the immune system weakens too much and CD4 cells decrease in #?

Answer 24

Stage 4

Question 25

What are some opportunistic infections associated with HIV CD4 less than 500? (AIDS suggestive)

Answer 25

``` Bacterial infections TB Herpes simplex/zoster Vaginal candidiasis Hairy leukoplakia Kaposi's sarcoma ```

Question 26

What are some opportunistic infections associated with AIDS with a CD4 count less than 200?

Answer 26

``` Pneumocystic Carinii Toxoplasmosis Cryptococcosis Coccodiodomycosis Cryptosporiosis Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma ```

Question 27

How do you diagnose HIV?

Answer 27

Antibody testing (ELISA/Western blot, Rapid blood/oral test, home HIV test kid) Viral detection via culture or RNA PCR

Question 28

What is the only FDA approved HIV antibody?

Answer 28

Orasure

Question 29

Is Orasure a saliva test?

Answer 29

NO! Draws blood-derived fluids from the gum tissue

Question 30

Viral load tests measure the amount of HIV-RNA in _____ of blood

Answer 30

1 mL

Question 31

How often should you repeat viral load tests to monitor viral load and T-cell count?

Answer 31

Every 3-6 months

Question 32

When do you repeat a viral load test after changing or starting antiretroviral therapy to determine the effect on the viral load?

Answer 32

4-6 weeks

Question 33

Testing of neonates for HIV measures the ___ antigen

Answer 33

P24

Question 34

What biochemically defines AIDS?

Answer 34

Having a CD4 count below 200

Question 35

How many HIV diagnoses are made each year?

Answer 35

50,000

Question 36

How often should you test someone who identifies as gay or bisexual for AIDS?

Answer 36

3-6 months may be beneficial

Question 37

What is the Maine state law about voluntary HIV testing?

Answer 37

You can order a test with informed consent obtained either written or oral

Question 38

What does the CDC currently recommend for testing for HIV?

Answer 38

4th gen HIV - 1/2 IgG/IgM/p24Ag as initial test

Question 39

If multispot is positive for HIV-1, what do you do?

Answer 39

Order a QUANTITATIVE HIV-1 PCR

Question 40

Is it better to start therapy for HIV early or later on?

Answer 40

Early - Earlier therapy improves long-term immune function

Question 41

Can people be infected with more than one HIV strain?

Answer 41

Yes!

Question 42

For the greatest chance of success, when must PEP begin?

Answer 42

At a minimum within 72 hours of exposure

Question 43

Regimens must consist of ____ or more active agents from multiple medication classes

Answer 43

Three

Question 44

Is PrEP well tolerated?

Answer 44

Yes!

Question 45

Early HIV treatment reduces the risk of transmitting the disease to an uninfected partner by ____%

Answer 45

96%