HIV 101

Faculty

Needs Statement

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) remain one of the leading causes of death in the United States (US).  As of December 2004, an estimated 944,306 persons have received a diagnosis of AIDS and of these, 529,113 have died.  Since 1994, the annual number of HIV cases among blacks and other racial/ethnic minority populations, as well as new groups of individuals exposed through heterosexual contact has increased dramatically.  Treatment has improved survival rates significantly over the last two decades, but progress in identifying persons infected with HIV is inadequate. Recent studies have shown that many individuals with HIV infection visit their primary care provider for several years before receiving a diagnosis of HIV, which suggests that their primary care providers do not screen adequately for HIV.  Part of the problem can be traced to the change in the HIV patient demographic trend that has occurred in the US,  reflected by the increasing proportions of HIV-infected adolescents and young adults, females, members of racial or ethnic minority populations, persons who reside outside metropolitan areas, and heterosexual men and women who are unaware of their risk for HIV disease. As a consequence, the effectiveness of risk-based testing for HIV disease has proven inadequate and led to a recent recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that all adults be routinely screened for HIV disease at the level of primary care medicine.

Target Audience

Physicians, physician's assistants, nurse practitioners, nurse mid-wives, nurses, pharmacists

Objectives

1. Describe the epidemiology of HIV infections in the U.S.;
2. Describe the pathogenesis of HIV;
3. Discuss the clinical manifestations of HIV infections;
4. Identify common methods used in the diagnosis of HIV infections;
5. List the CDC-recommended treatment regimens for HIV infections;
6. Describe public health measures for the prevention of HIV infections.

Accreditation

CME
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and The Alabama/North Carolina STD Prevention and Training Center. The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine presents this activity for educational purposes only. Participants are expected to utilize their own expertise and judgment while engaged in the practice of medicine. The content of the presentations is provided solely by presenters who have been selected for presentations because of recognized expertise in their field.

CNE
This activity is co-provided by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Medicine, Alabama AIDS Training & Education Center, which is approved by the Alabama State Nurses Association, which is accredited as an approver of continuing education in nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing on Accreditation and the Alabama Board of Nursing. This course is approved for 1.00 Continuing Education hour.

Faculty Disclosure

Dr. Jennings reports no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests of healthcare products or services related to this activity.

Activity Sponsorship

This activity is jointly sponsored by the University of Kentucky and The Alabama/North Carolina STD Prevention and Training Center.