HIV Prevention

About this course

Being a healthcare provider is not limited to nurses and physicians. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), a healthcare provider is anyone who has the potential of being exposed to HIV through blood and body fluids, equipment, or surfaces. Treatment of HIV and AIDS is ever evolving with new medications. This learning topic provides an overview of HIV as described by the CDC, it’s history and stages, common antiretroviral medications that are currently used for pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis, and CDC recommendations for the healthcare provider should exposure to HIV occur.

Learning objectives

• Define HIV through a timeline of HIV identification in the United States.
• Describe Modes of HIV transmission.
• Describe common antiretroviral medications used to treat HIV.
• Identify post-exposure prophylaxis recommendations for healthcare providers as described by the Center for Disease Control.

Course outline

19 sections · finish in any order across devices

1. 1

   Introduction

   Approximately 1.1 million people in the United States have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and approximately 15% of them do not know that they have the virus. It is estimated that approximately 40% of new HIV infections are transmitted by persons who are unaware that they have the disease.¹ Human

   4 min

2. 2

   Timeline of HIV in US History

   Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is believed to have originated in Kinshasa, in the Dominican Republic of Congo during the 1920s when it was transferred to hunters from chimpanzees. There was sporadic documentation of signs and symptoms related to the disease during early the 1970s, however it is

   5 min

3. 3

   Stages of HIV

   There are three stages in HIV infection. ⁷ Antiretroviral therapy (ART) can be used by those with HIV during each of the three stages of the disease. Taking medications as prescribed can slow the or prevent the progression of HIV, and having an undetectable viral load reduces the risk of HIV transmi

   4 min

4. 4

   Opportunistic Infections

   Opportunistic infections are infections that occur more frequently in people with weakened immune systems such as in HIV and AIDS. ⁹ Opportunistic infections are less common now than in the 1980s and 1990s because better medications and treatments are available. Although medications and treatments h

   8 min

5. 5

   HIV-1 and HIV-2

   HIV-1 and HIV-2 are two different viruses that can cause AIDS. ¹ HIV-1 is the main form of HIV and accounts for nearly 95% of all HIV infections worldwide. HIV-2 is most found in West African countries. The disease progression of HIV-2 is generally slower than HIV-1. Some HIV medications such as Non

   4 min

6. 6

   HIV Spread

   HIV is spread from a person with HIV to a noninfected person through blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, vaginal fluid, rectal fluid, and breast milk. For transmission to occur, the bodily fluids containing HIV must encounter damaged tissue or mucous membranes or be injected into the blood stream. It i

   4 min

7. 7

   13,458

   35-44

   4 min

8. 8

   Transgender Population

   Transgender women and men are at high risk for getting HIV.² According to the CDC¹, approximately 14% of transgender women have HIV, and the percentage is much higher among black/African American (44%) and Hispanic/Latina (26%) transgender women. An estimated 3% of transgender men also have HIV. ²

   4 min

9. 9

   Antiretroviral Therapy

   Antiretroviral therapy (ART) reduces the HIV related mortality during all stages of HIV infections and reduces the rate of transmission to others.¹⁰ When taken as prescribed by s healthcare professional, ARTs can effectively suppress the viral load of HIV (sometimes to the point of being undetectabl

   4 min

10. 10

    HIV Prevention

    The only practice that is 100% effective in preventing the transmission of HIV is abstinence. ¹ Abstinence occurs when one chooses to refrain from having oral, vaginal, and anal sex. Although the risk of getting HIV from oral sex is extremely low, there is a risk that is present. The risk for transm

    4 min

11. 11

    Pre-exposure Prophylaxis

    Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are antiretroviral medications that are used by those who are HIV negative and have an increased risk of exposure to HIV through sexual activity or injectable drug use.¹⁰ When taken daily as prescribed, PrEPs greatly reduce the risk of HIV transmission through sexual

    4 min

12. 12

    Post-exposure Prophylaxis

    Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) are antiretroviral medications that should be used by those who think they have been exposed to HIV through sex or injectable drug use.⁸ These medications are used to prevent HIV transmission and should be initiated within 72 hours of the possible exposure. They shoul

    4 min

13. 13

    Antiretroviral Medication Classifications

    Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)

    4 min

14. 14

    Common HIV antiretroviral medications as provided by the CDC¹⁰

    Medication Name

    9 min

15. 15

    Occupational Exposure to HIV

    A healthcare provider is anyone who works in the healthcare setting and is at risk for exposure to infectious materials such as blood, body fluids, tissue, contaminated equipment and medical supplies, and contaminated surfaces.⁸ The types of exposure that can place a healthcare provider at risk to H

    4 min

16. 16

    Conclusion

    Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) poses the risk of transmission through various activities such as sex, drug use, and occupational exposure. Multiple HIV prevention options are available and every healthcare provider who is exposed to or has HIV should learn about all options for the prevention of

    4 min

17. 17

    HIV Prevention Posttest

    You cannot transmit HIV when you are in stage one (acute infection) and are asymptomatic.

    4 min

18. 18

    HIV prevention Post-test Answers

    There are three stages in HIV infection. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) can be used by those with HIV during each of the three stages of the disease. Taking medications as prescribed can slow the or prevent the progression of HIV, and having an undetectable viral load reduces the risk of HIV transmiss

    4 min

19. 19

    13,458

    35-44

    4 min

This course satisfies

Requirement summaries come from our state requirement records. Always confirm details with your board before you renew.

References and resources

• About HIV/AIDS. (2019, December 2). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/whatishiv.html
• Becasen, J. S., Denard, C. L., Mullins, M. M., Higa, D. H., & Sipe, T. A. (2019). Estimating the prevalence of HIV and sexual behaviors among the US transgender population: A systematic review and meta-analysis, 2006–2017. American Journal of Public Health, 109(1), e1-e8. doi:10.2105/ajph.2018.304727
• Bernard M., B., S. Michele, O., Laura G., W., Berry, B., Barbara G., W., Kelly E., W., … Michael A., P. (2014). Laboratory testing for the diagnosis of HIV infection: Updated recommendations. doi:10.15620/cdc.23447
• Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD. (n.d.). ELISA test results, types & procedure risks. Retrieved from https://www.medicinenet.com/elisa_tests/article.htm
• Guidelines for prophylaxis against pneumocystis carinii pneumonia for persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus. (2001, May 2). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00001409.htm
• History of HIV and AIDS overview. (2019, October 10). Retrieved from https://www.avert.org/professionals/history-hiv-aids/overview
• HIV basics. (2019, September 25). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/index.html
• Kuhar, D. T., Henderson, D. K., Struble, K. A., Heneine, W., Thomas, V., Cheever, L. W., … Gomaa, A. (2013). Updated US Public Health Service guidelines for the management of occupational exposures to human immunodeficiency virus and recommendations for Postexposure prophylaxis. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 34(9), 875-892. doi:10.1086/672271
• Opportunistic infections | Living with HIV | HIV basics | HIV/AIDS | CDC. (2019, September 26). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/livingwithhiv/opportunisticinfections.html
• Prescribe PrEP pre-exposure prophylaxis. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/stophivtogether/library/prescribe-hiv-prevention/brochures/cdc-lsht-php-brochure-prep-faq.pdf
• Sabin, C. A., & Lundgren, J. D. (2013). The natural history of HIV infection. Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS, 1. doi:10.1097/coh.0b013e328361fa66

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