2012 HIV Sourcebook for the Primary Care Provider

This monograph is a sourcebook that provides information about HIV infection for professionals who work in today’s health care system. It is meant be a convenient reference for some of the most common issues encountered in daily practice. It contains an outline of basic HIV patient care, and a list of resources that can be accessed locally. It presents guidelines and recommendations related to antiretroviral therapy (ART), treatment of opportunistic diseases, HIV testing and counseling, prevention of perinatal transmission, and post-exposure prophylaxis. The monograph begins with a consideration for primary care, followed by a brief history of HIV infection and an overview of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of HIV infection. Additional topics include: risk assessment and risk reduction; diagnosing HIV; its treatment, symptoms, and treatment of opportunistic infections; and psychosocial issues in caring for the HIV/AIDS patient. The appendices present postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) guidelines; current antiretroviral medications; abbreviations; and a list of services, hotlines, and resources.