Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the most radical stage of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). “AIDS is a pandemic” (Eisinger 2018). “AIDS can be defined by the US Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an infection with HIV and either a CD+ T-lymphocyte cell count HIV is a retrovirus that is mainly assumed by contact with infected body fluids and intravenous drug use.
Moms can pass the infection on to their unborn children during delivery, through breast milk or even in utero (Schub & Ashley, 2017). If HIV is transmitted, the virus then enters and replicates inside CD4+ T-cells. During this process the virus rapidly increases and at this point, the individual is highly contagious. On average, the infection remains asymptomatic for years, however, the infection will lead to AIDS when not treated within approximately 10 years” (Schub & Ashley, 2017).
There is no cure for AIDS, but antiretroviral treatments retard disease advancement, reduces the rate of complications and related death, improves existence and decreases HIV transmission. (Schub & Ashley, 2017). Current treatment of HIV involves antiretroviral therapy (HAART), using a combination of drugs and rigorous care to promote comfort and improve quality of life. When treatment is started early and consistently, HIV is much easier to control. Adherence and compliance is often difficult for patients with AIDS because of social determinants and stigmas. Nurses are the key to adherence and improved clinical picture by performing thorough, nonjudgmental patient assessments and providing constant patient education and praise.
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Patient education is so important because some patients with HIV infection continue to engage in high risk behaviors. For individuals that are at high risk for HIV infection, pre exposure prophylaxis (PREP) has now been made available with a doctor’s prescription. An HIV vaccine is also being researched and has been for many years. In addition, post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is available for patients who have been exposed to the virus (Schub & Ashley, 2017). Treatment as prevention is truly the expectation for controlling this pandemic.
AIDS has many symptoms and affects many organs in the body, so initial diagnosis is often missed due to subtle signs such as fatigue, weakness and weigh loss. Therefore, patient history and asking about high risk behaviors should be a must at every interaction, regardless of how uncomfortable the nurse or patient may feel. Nurses must be able to identify the needs of her sick patient and include other disciplines in the plan of care. Referrals to social workers and mental health clinicians should be priority to encompass the patient’s care comprehensively.
“Risk factors for progression of HIV to AIDS includes mental health disorders, certain genetic factors, substance abuse, high viral load, poor adherence to prescribed treatment regimens, poor nutrition, older age at time of the infection and infection with more than one strain of HIV (Gutierrez, 2017). With this being known, it’s of the utmost importance for nurses to discover the determinants of health in her patients and periodically reassess the patients’ needs to help them increase the quality of life.
AIDS will continue to infect our population and if not directly, then indirectly affect each one of our lives. Experts in the field believe a strategy to calm the pandemic is to “Universally test and treat” (Gutierrez, 2017). The thought is to perform HIV infection detection tests at each yearly physical for everyone and treat the infected. If this were to be done, we could reduce the transmission of HIV by treating the infected with HAART and have less of the virus circulating. Advancements in technology and science have changed the face of the HIV, allowing infected individuals to have normal life spans that are enjoyable. The amount of HIV infected people continues to increase across the globe. Awareness of HIV/AIDS and attitudes towards this disease among nurses and their willingness to care for those infected directly impact the quality of HIV/AIDS in patient care (Wu & Ko, 2014).
References
- AIDSinfo. (2016). Guidelines for prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections in HIV-infected adults and adolescents. Retrieved July 16, 2018, from https:// aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/lvguidelines/adult_oi.pdf
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017, June 9). HIV in the United States: At a glance. Retrieved August 6, 2017, from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/statistics/basics/ ataglance.html
- Eisinger, R. W., & Fauci, A. S. (2018). Ending the HIV/AIDS Pandemic1. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 24(3), 413-416. doi:10.3201/eid2403.171797
- Gutiérrez, F. (2017). Special article: HIV/AIDS infection: The beginning of the end for today’s greatest pandemic? Revista Clínica Española (English Edition), 217468-472. doi:10.1016/j.rceng.2017.04.004
- Schub, T., & Ashley, T. (2017, October 20). Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Retrieved from http://ccbcmd.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nrc&AN=T701530&site=nrc-live
- Seron Sanches, R., Rodrigues de Souza, A., & Silva Lima, R. (2018). Factors related to the development of stress and burnout among nursing professionals who work in the care of people living with HIV/aids. Revista De Pesquisa: Cuidado E Fundamental, 10(1), 276-282. doi:10.9789/2175-5361.2018.v10i1.276-282
- Wu, H., Ko, N., Shih, C., & Feng, M. (2014). HIV/AIDS: An exploration of the knowledge, attitude, infection risk perceptions, and willingness to care of nurses. Hu Li Za Zhi, 61(5), 43-53. Retrieved from http://ccbcmd.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search-proquest- com.ccbcmd.idm.oclc.org/docview/1614952273?accountid=3784
