Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection
Queensland Health Guidelines for Public Health Units
Revision History
| Version | Date | Changes |
| 1.0 | December 2010 | Full revision of guideline. |
Infectious Agent
The agent is the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - types 1 and 2.
Notification and Reporting Criteria
Laboratory notification only. Laboratory reporting to NOCS.
For case definitions see http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/cdna-casedefinitions.htm
Public Health Significance and Occurrence
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was first recognised in 1981 and HIV type 1 was isolated in 1984. HIV infection is currently pandemic. It is estimated that at the end of 2003, 40 million people worldwide were living with HIV; the majority being in developing countries particularly sub-Saharan Africa. In developing countries, heterosexual transmission is the most common means of transmission. Transmission and acquisition of HIV is facilitated by co-infection with other sexually transmissible infections.
In Queensland and Australia, the majority of infections occur in men who have sex with men. There has been a generally increasing trend in notifications in Queensland and Australia since 1998.
Clinical Features
See Queensland Sexual Health Clinical Management Guidelines
Mode of Transmission
Person-to-person by sexual contact; sharing of contaminated needles and syringes; transfusion of infected blood or its components; transplantation of HIV infected organs or tissues; from mother to child before, during or shortly after birth, or via breast milk.
Investigation and Screening
For investigation see Queensland Sexual Health Clinical Management Guidelines
For screening of at risk population groups see Queensland Sexual Health Clinical Management Guidelines
Management
Cases
See Queensland Sexual Health Clinical Management Guidelines
See Queensland Health Protocol for the Management of People with HIV who Place Others at Risk
Contacts
See Queensland Sexual Health Clinical Management Guidelines
For post-exposure prophylaxis see Queensland Health Infection Control Guidelines – Guidelines for the Management of Occupational and Non-occupational Exposures to Blood and Body Fluids
Preventive Measures
- Education - high risk groups and young people
- Condoms
- Facilitate risk reduction for IV drug users
- Screening of blood products and other human tissues/fluids for transplantation/transfusion
- Standard precautions eg. gloves, sharps disposal.
Contact Details of Queensland Health Sexual Health Services
References
Australasian Society for HIV Medicine, 2006. Australasian Contact Tracing Manual (3rd ed).
Cohen J and Powderly WG, 2003. Infectious Diseases (2nd ed). Mosby: Washington.
Heymann, D (Ed), 2008. Control of Communicable Diseases Manual (19th ed). American Public Health Association: Washington.
Holmes KK et al, 2008. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (4th ed). McGraw, New York.
McMillan A and Scott GR. 2008. Sexually Transmitted Infections (2nd ed.)
Queensland Health, Communicable Diseases Branch, Queensland Sexual Health Clinical Management
Guidelines 2010.
World Health Organization. 2003. Guidelines for the Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections.