HIV/AIDS: Prevalence, Prevention, and Treatment
Target Audience: Pharmacy Tech
Course Overview
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV can significantly depress immune system function, leading progressively to AIDS. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has reduced the morbidity and mortality associated with HIV-1 infection and AIDS, enabling HIV-infected individuals to live longer and have an improved quality of life. Advancements in ART and increasing availability of prevention options, such as oral preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and long-acting PrEP, have allowed many patients with HIV to achieve viral suppression. Nevertheless, HIV and AIDS are still serious health problems requiring federal and state resources.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- Identify how HIV/AIDS is transmitted
- Identify methods of prevention and precaution for HIV/AIDS transmission
- Discuss treatment options for HIV/AIDS
- Describe the types of co-occurring disorders that may be seen in patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS
- Describe HIV testing, confidentiality of test results for patients, and partner notification
Faculty
I. Introduction
II. Prevalence of HIV/AIDS
III. Types and Stages of HIV Infection
A. HIV-1 and HIV-2
B. Stages of HIV Infection
IV. HIV Transmission
A. Potential Non-occupational Exposures to HIV
B. Occupational Exposure
V. Prevention of HIV Transmission
A. Non-occupational Prevention Strategies
B. Occupational Prevention Strategies
C. Post-exposure Prophylaxis for All HIV Exposures
D. PEPline Hotline
E. Risk of Needlestick Injuries in the Pharmacy Setting
VI. HIV Screening
A. Blood Test for Antibodies to HIV and HIV Antigen
B. Home Screening Tests
VII. Clinical Management
A. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
B. Case Study: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
VIII. AIDS and Co-occurring Disorders
A. Tuberculosis and Other Pulmonary Diseases
B. Cardiovascular Disease
C. Neurological Disease
D. Oral Lesions
E. Liver Disease
F. Hematologic Disease
G. Endocrine Disease
H. Dermatological Disease
I. Neoplastic Disease
J. Genitourinary Disease
K. AIDS-defining Diseases
IX. Case Study: HIV and Kidney Transplant
X. Brief Overview of Antiretroviral Therapy
A. ART Regimen Compliance Barriers
B. Case Study: ART and Viral Rebound in an Adolescent Male
C. Case Study: Prolonged Remission in a Child Born with HIV
XI. State Regulations for HIV/AIDS Testing
XII. New HIV Diagnosis and Partner Notification
XIII. Summary
From September 13, 2025 through September 13, 2028, participants must:
- Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
- Study the section entitled "educational activity"
- Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)
Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to CPE Monitor®.
Faculty Planner Disclosure
The following individuals were involved in developing this activity: Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS. None of the individuals involved in developing this activity has a conflict of interest or financial relationships regarding the subject matter. There are no financial relationships or commercial or financial support relevant to this activity to report or disclose by RxCe.com or any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.
Unlabeled Use Disclosure
The information provided in this course is general in nature and it is solely designed to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant’s professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, must consult with their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization, for guidelines, protocols, and procedures they are to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures but is for academic purposes only, and this course’s limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses are constantly changing, and any person taking this course understands that such person must make an independent review of medication information prior to any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course, or course material.
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- Operating System: Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11 / Mac OS X 10.9 or later / iOS / Android
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- A connection to the internet
Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
PTCB Recognition
RxCe.com, LLC, offers pharmacy technician continuing education courses for PTCB recertification. Pharmacy technician courses are indicated both in the Target Audience description and the ACPE UAN which will end with a "T".