Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may cause viral antigenemia, detected primarily as p24 viral core protein. Among 16 patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex studied serially, 12 had or developed antigenemia ranging from 16 to 3006 pg/mL in plasma. The level could be categorized as high (greater than 100 pg/mL) or low (15 to 65 pg/mL). Three patients with anti-p24 antibody had no antigenemia. Zidovudine (AZT), 200 or 250 mg every 4 hours, reduced antigenemia by about 90%; other regimens were less effective. Leukocyte cultures were positive for HIV from patients with antigenemia, and in one third of samples in the absence of antigenemia. High levels of antigenemia correlated with symptoms, CD4 cell count, and prognosis. Drug toxicity requiring a lower dose was followed by increased antigenemia, recurrent symptoms, and decreased CD4 cells, suggesting lymphocyte toxicity. Monitoring antigenemia can be useful in evaluating patients with HIV infection and in evaluating the effect of antiviral chemotherapy.
Background: Because an increasing number of chronically mentally ill individuals are HIV-positive, continuing education must include AIDS content to ensure psychiatric nurses provide competent care. The Fundamentals of Mental Health and HIV/AIDS Program was tested to determine its effectiveness in augmenting the AIDS knowledge of mental health professionals.
Method: Two hundred forty RNs attended the Fundamental of Mental Health and HIV/AIDS Program. They completed pretest and posttest measures.
Results: The program significantly increased AIDS knowledge. The increase in AIDS knowledge was more dramatic for psychiatric nurses than for non-psychiatric nurses.
Conclusion: This study reinforces the need for AIDS continuing education.
This study examined changes in service delivery patterns of health and mental health service providers one year after a training on the fundamentals of HIV/AIDS and mental health. Paired t-tests for 424 training recipients showed significant increases in delivery of HIV-related services, and these remained significant while controlling for additional training, job changes, region (urban, rural, suburban), and provider discipline. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed a significantly greater likelihood of providing direct services to HIV+ individuals among male providers, those with more years of HIV experience, those in counseling disciplines, and those working in a new job since the training.
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