Posts tagged HIV treatment
HIV and Parenting
10 years ago
by ADMIN
in HIV Research
With advances in modern medicine and therapies, babies who have had HIV passed on to them from their parents are surviving into young adulthood. This is a big step forward, indeed; not too long ago, HIV would have claimed their lives well before they reached their teens.
While this is good news and shows definite progress in the battle against the virus, there are several social implications. Researchers interviewed young adults aged 18-23 who had perinatally-acquired HIV (or PAH). What they found was a natural desire to have a family and raise children of their own. Certain issues regarding such choices, however, make these types of decisions difficult. Therefore, these young people are looking for answers as to how to go about planning their futures.
Each person interviewed expressed the desire to have children. While this was what they wanted, concerns over how to tell their partners about HIV, and eventually their children, posed a dilemma. They wanted families of their own but were unsure as to how to go about it. Especially weighing on them was the risk of transmitting HIV to their children. Most were worried about the long-term effects on their relationships, both with potential partners and their children.
Another area of consideration researchers took into account was cultural background. For example, certain African cultures place importance on having children, and those with PAH naturally want their own families and are also pressured socially to do so. In light of this, researchers see an urgent need for education, emphasizing information on communication and making filial and relationship decisions.
The medical advances against HIV have given many people a chance at a normal life and bright future. Along with this, though, comes a new set of issues. Finding a way to impart important information on making good life decisions is what researchers and physicians are hoping to look into.
HIV Patients Fare Better Visiting Just One Clinic
11 years ago
“Continual and consistent therapy is better”—this is according to a recent study conducted on HIV patients and the clinics they visited. While most can appreciate why this is so, especially when it comes to the complexities involved in antiretroviral therapy (or ART), the importance of continuity of care is even more pronounced in these cases.
Patients and clinics were followed for a period of time to analyze the quality of care given and the compliance of HIV patients. It was found that most patients who visited different clinics received care that was, at times, less than adequate. Most of the time, care was inconsistent and patient follow-through was poor. This could be seen in higher viral loads in HIV patients who visited numerous clinics when compared to those who went to just one.
Those who were more likely to frequent various clinics were younger women normally in their first year of treatment. This practice of going to different clinics could be in part due to fear of social stigma, needing to seek treatment for diseases other than HIV, or other reasons. This trend worries researchers and clinicians alike—the quality of care and overall health of those HIV patients is at stake. The results of the study are now beneficial, meaning the system can now be altered to ensure that care is continuous and consistent. Making changes in order for clinics to provide better care means less ART errors and a lessening of viral load in new patients. Patient follow-through is likely to increase when they receive a measure of consistency, especially when it comes to complicated ART regimens.
As far as social effects are concerned, researchers are eager for a change in how clinics play into HIV treatment. If patients are not receiving, taking and following up with therapies and drug treatments, the risks of complications and transmission increases. Physicians hope that by making the system more efficient, these risks can be reduced.
Infectious Disease Specialists A Benefit to HIV Inpatients
11 years ago
Hospitalized patients face certain challenges when dealing with existing medical issues. For patients with HIV, the challenges can be critical if not handled expertly. This is especially true when they are admitted for medical reasons other than HIV. Infection, surgery or other issues or complications can throw off their ART or antiretroviral treatment. What can be done?
It has been reviewed that when a hospitalized HIV patient is seen by an infectious disease physician, the results are generally better. The complex regimen of HIV therapies can be confusing for staff members not used to regularly handling such issues. For these reasons, errors are often made, such as a wrong dosage or prescribing other drugs with ART contraindications. Infectious disease doctors and pharmacists can provide the required level of care.
Recent studies are showing that a great percentage of HIV patients seen by an infectious disease specialist report less errors than those who didn’t. Also the number of errors that were corrected or caught in time was remarkably higher. Due to education and familiarity with HIV therapy, specialists in the field are better equipped when it comes to managing certain aspects of inpatient care. In the end, patients required fewer hours of medical attention and demonstrated overall improvement in health when compared with HIV patients not seen by an infectious disease specialist.
In the case of medication and ART, pharmacists and clinicians trained in infectious disease evaluated, altered and administered drugs as needed. They were accurately able to determine risk and benefit for changes that were made. This type of consideration resulted in better management of medical issues with as little interference as possible with HIV therapies. These studies clearly indicate that there are indeed great benefits for an HIV patient to be under the charge of an infectious disease physician when admitted for other reasons to the hospital.
Effective Prevention for HIV in Women
11 years ago
by ADMIN
in Experimental Treatment
The sad facts point to a rise in the number of women who are infected with HIV. When compared to men, the percentage is remarkably higher. Even with modern treatment and certain preventative measures and therapies, the number of female victims is climbing. The problem lies in the economic state that many patients find themselves in, and certain cultural differences can also inhibit the use of certain therapies and prevention. Many patients stop or are inconsistent with their treatment as a result.
A recent development could help slow the progress of the virus by preventing spread of infection. With this information in mind, researchers are thrilled with the effectiveness of an intravaginal ring that contains an antiretroviral pharmaceutical. In tests that have been conducted in primates, the success rate was 100% in preventing transmission of the virus.
Besides its success in the lab, there are other advantages that researchers are hoping will prove beneficial. For example, the ring can last up to 30 days. There is a lesser amount of the drug in the ring than would be needed if taken orally in pill form. This helps to reduce cost and hassle, a great benefit to the majority of women needing treatment. The amount of antiretroviral drug that it administers increases, rather than decreases, over that period of time. This is due to the type of polymer used to make the ring. It expands in fluid, thus administering the drug in adequate levels while inside the patient.
Human trials are underway and researchers and physicians are hopeful. In time, adding other drugs, such as those used in the prevention of STDs and even contraceptives is a possibility. This would further widen the ring’s appeal and encourage consistent usage. For now, researchers await the human trials with high expectations.
New Guidelines for HIV Occupational Exposure
11 years ago
by ADMIN
in HIV Research
The United States Public Health Service just this year has released updates to the occupational exposure to HIV procedures. These updates are effective immediately and are aimed at reducing the risk of infection in healthcare workers who have come in contact with the HIV virus. Of course, the focus of any healthcare establishment is to reduce or eliminate the potential of exposure. However, for those times when exposure does occur, this new regimen has been streamlined to be more effective.
The previous guidelines began the process with an evaluation. This was used to determine the level of exposure and helped doctors decide which medications would be most beneficial to use. Recent changes include the elimination of the assessment and proceed right to the taking of three antiretroviral drugs. These three have proved easier to tolerate in patients.
Ideally, officials hope that these new standards will allow healthcare workers to begin treatment within hours after the initial exposure. Care, counseling, treatment and follow up are expected to all take place within a 3 day period. This puts the emphasis on immediate care. The newer guidelines have been revised so as to help those exposed to receive quick, appropriate care and stick with the regimen. To help make the required treatments easier to handle, a four month care option is offered along with the longer six month plan. All of this has been put into place with the hope that those exposed will complete the recommended course of action.
Seeing as an expert in the HIV field may not be readily available at the time of the exposure, a set of the aforementioned guidelines should be given to emergency personnel and providers. These are the ones likely to be the first responders to an incident. Again, it is the timely initiation of the regimen that is emphasized with these new regulations.
