HIV/AIDS
What is the most common NRTI used?
AZT (zidovudine)
Give 6 symptoms of HIV disease.
Anorexia, fatigue, weakness, night sweats, fever, diarrhea
Which test is the best indicator of the progress of HIV disease?
CD4 count
What type of oral/esophageal infections do AIDS patients get?
Candida
What lab findings are present in AIDS?
Decreased RBC's, WBC's and platelets
What is the first test for HIV antibodies?
ELISA
Name the 5 risk groups for AIDS
Homo/bisexual men, IV drug users, hemophiliacs, heterosexual partners of infected people, newborn children of infected women
When do you need a gown with AIDS?
If you are going to get contaminated with secretions
What is the #1 cancer that AIDS patients get?
Kaposi's sarcoma
Kaposi's sarcoma is a cancer of the ___________.
Skin
Without leukopenia the AIDS patient will be on __________ precautions.
Standard precautions or blood and body fluid precautions
When do you need goggles with AIDS?
Suctioning, central line start, arterial procedures
The AIDS virus invades helper ____________.
T-lymphocytes (or CD4 cells)
What is the most challenging aspect of combination of drug therapy for HIV disease?
The number of pills that must be taken in 24 hrs can be overwhelming. The frequency also makes it hard to remember - an alarm wristwatch is used.
What do NRTI's and PI's do?
They prevent viral replication
T/F: AIDS patients get lymphomas?
True
What test confirms the ELISA?
Western Blot
Does AIDS require a single room?
Yes - if WBC counts are low
HIV is present in all body fluids?
Yes, but not transmitted by all, only blood, semen & breast milk
Can AIDS patients leave the floor?
Yes, unless WBC's are very low
NRTI (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors)
an antiviral drug used against HIV (is incorporated into the DNA of the virus and stops the building process; results in incomplete DNA that cannot create a new virus; often used in combination with other drugs)
When the AIDS patient has a low platelet count, what is indicated?
bleeding precautions; No IM's, no rectal temperatures, other bleeding precautions
AIDS is transmissible through what four routs?
blood, sexual contact, breast feeding, across placenta in utero
Define Leukopenia
decrease in wbc, indicated viral infection
Clients with AIDS (gain/lose) weight?
lose
PI's (Protease inhibitors)
most potent of antiviral meds, inhibit cell protein synthesis that interferes with viral replication, does not cure but slows progression of AIDS and prolongs life, used prophylactically, used in AIDS to decrease viral load and opportunistic infections
Are all articles used by AIDS patients double-bagged?
no - only those contaminated with secretions
If the AIDS patient has leukopenia they will be on __________.
protective (reverse) isolation
What virus causes AIDS?
HIV - Human immunodeficiency virus
If an AIDS patient's blood contaminates a counter-top, with what do you clean?
1:10 solution of bleach and water
A CD4 count of under ________ is associated with the onset of opportunistic infections.
200
A CD4 count of under ________ is associated with the onset of AIDS-related symptoms.
500
What does the physician hope to achieve with NRTI's and PI's for HIV?
A delayed onset of AIDS for as long as possible (usually can delay onset for 10-15 years)
Which 2 classes of drugs are given in combination for HIV sero-positivity?
NRTI's (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) and PI's (protease inhibitors) They prevent viral replication.
When do you need a mask with AIDS?
Not usually unless they have an infection caused by an airborne bug
The typical pneumonia of AIDS is caused by _______________.
Pneumocystic carinii
