What it means
A virus that spreads through blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk: by sex, shared needles, from parent to baby, and rarely by needlestick. Over years without treatment it weakens the immune systemih-MYOON SIS-tumThe body's defense system of cells, tissues and organs that fights germs and other foreign substances.Full entry until the person gets serious infections and cancers, the stage called AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Daily antiretroviral therapy (ART) controls it; a person whose virus is kept undetectable does not pass it on through sex.
For the nurse
Use standard precautions with every client. After a needlestick, wash the area and report at once, since post-exposure drugs work best when started within hours. Teach clients to take ART every day and to keep up lab checks of viral load and CD4 count.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | AIDS; ART (antiretroviral therapy); PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis); PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) |
|---|---|
| Spanish | VIH (virus de inmunodeficiencia humana) |
| Also written | human immunodeficiency virus |
Related terms
precaution
A step taken ahead of time to prevent harm, such as the infection-control practices used with every client.
sexually transmitted infection
An infection passed from one person to another mainly through sexual contact.
immune system
The body's defense system of cells, tissues and organs that fights germs and other foreign substances.
immunodeficiency
A state in which the immune system is weaker than normal and cannot fight infection well.
antiviral
A drug that treats or prevents infection by a virus, usually by stopping the virus from making copies of itself.