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Updated: May 1, 2026
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Chronic, Acute, and Reactivated HIV Infection in Humanized Immunodeficient Mouse Models
Published on: December 3, 2019
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What is new in HIV infection?
Kevin Sherin1, Benjamin G Klekamp2, Jeffery Beal3
1Florida State University College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, USA.
American Family Physician
|April 4, 2014
Summary
Routine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening is recommended for all adults, with new testing and prevention strategies like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) significantly impacting HIV care. Treatment as prevention, utilizing combination antiretroviral therapy, is key to reducing viral loads and community transmission.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Updated guidelines recommend routine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening for individuals aged 15-65, irrespective of risk factors.
- Fourth-generation HIV testing is now standard, improving the detection of acute infections and replacing older methods like the Western blot.
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved an in-home HIV test, though concerns regarding sensitivity and counseling exist.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize recent advancements and shifts in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention and treatment strategies.
- To highlight the evolving landscape of HIV screening, testing technologies, and prophylactic interventions.
- To underscore the significance of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in both treatment and prevention.
Main Methods:
- Review of current clinical recommendations and guidelines from authoritative bodies.
- Analysis of emerging diagnostic technologies, including fourth-generation assays and home-testing kits.
- Evaluation of evidence supporting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) for HIV prevention and treatment.
Main Results:
- Routine HIV screening is now broadly recommended, with fourth-generation tests enhancing early detection.
- Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) shows efficacy in high-risk groups but requires strict adherence and addresses misconceptions.
- Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) is effective for treatment at any CD4 count and as a prevention strategy, lowering community viral loads.
Conclusions:
- A paradigm shift in HIV management emphasizes 'treatment is prevention,' with cART playing a central role.
- Early initiation of cART, guided by resistance testing, is crucial for all patients upon entering care.
- Special considerations are necessary for initiating cART in patients with specific opportunistic infections like tuberculosis and cryptococcal meningitis.
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