HIV AIDS opportunistic infections: Difference between revisions
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
*Certain patients are aware of their HIV infection, but do not take ART because of psychosocial or economic factors. | *Certain patients are aware of their HIV infection, but do not take ART because of psychosocial or economic factors. | ||
*Certain patients are prescribed ART, but fail to attain adequate virologic and immunologic response because of factors related to adherence, pharmacokinetics, or unexplained biologic factors. | *Certain patients are prescribed ART, but fail to attain adequate virologic and immunologic response because of factors related to adherence, pharmacokinetics, or unexplained biologic factors. | ||
Thus, although hospitalizations and deaths have decreased since the implementation of ART, OIs remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected persons | |||
==Related Chapters== | ==Related Chapters== | ||
Revision as of 21:57, 5 April 2012
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief:, Ujjwal Rastogi, MBBS [2]
Overview
Before the widespread use of potent combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), opportunistic infections (OIs), which have been defined as infections that are more frequent or more severe because of immunosuppression in HIV-infected persons, were the principal cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. In the early 1990s, the use of chemoprophylaxis, immunization, and better strategies for managing acute OIs contributed to improved quality of life and improved survival.[1] However, the widespread use of ART starting in the mid-1990s has had the most profound influence on reducing OI-related mortality in HIV-infected persons in those countries in which these therapies are accessible and affordable.
Etiology
Despite the availability of ART in the United States and other industrialized countries, OIs continue to cause considerable morbidity and mortality for three primary reasons:
- Many patients are unaware of their HIV infection and seek medical care when an OI becomes the initial indicator of their disease.
- Certain patients are aware of their HIV infection, but do not take ART because of psychosocial or economic factors.
- Certain patients are prescribed ART, but fail to attain adequate virologic and immunologic response because of factors related to adherence, pharmacokinetics, or unexplained biologic factors.
Thus, although hospitalizations and deaths have decreased since the implementation of ART, OIs remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected persons
Related Chapters
Reference
- ↑ Walensky RP, Paltiel AD, Losina E, Mercincavage LM, Schackman BR, Sax PE, Weinstein MC, Freedberg KA (2006). "The survival benefits of AIDS treatment in the United States". J. Infect. Dis. 194 (1): 11–9. doi:10.1086/505147. PMID 16741877. Retrieved 2012-04-05. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help)