AIDS 101: From abstinence to zidovudine

American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, Summer 2001 by Romanelli, Frank

PROLOGUE

Development of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected individuals is now considered to be a problem of pandemic proportions. Greater then 30 million people are infected worldwide with average life expectancies in many third world countries being dramatically lowered by high infection rates. In the United States, development of AIDS and death from AIDS have both fallen dramatically, but HIV infection rates remain virtually unchanged(l). Management of HIV disease is complex and requires specialized knowledge. Pharmacists may play critical roles in the management of HIV-infected individuals as these patients will be on multiple medications for both HIV and the many opportunistic infections it causes. These medications require vigilant adherence in order to maximize and preserve antiviral efficacy.

This presentation introduces basic epidemiology/etiology and reviews fundamental physiology and pathophyisology associated with HIV/AIDS. The learner is expected to use this information to understand the mechanism of actions of various antiretrovirals used to inhibit HIV. The learner is also expected to synthesize and apply this information in the management and provision of pharmaceutical care to HIV-infected persons.

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