Overview
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that targets the immune system's CD4+ T cells which are
essential for combating infections. It is mainly a sexually transmitted disease but may also be acquired
through sharing of infected needles or perinatally wherein the mother passes the virus to her child during
pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding. If untreated, HIV infection can progress into a debilitating, but
potentially reversible condition known as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Hence, it is crucial to
screen individuals at risk for acquiring HIV and initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) as soon as possible
to prevent AIDS from developing. Timely treatment and prevention of disease progression are significant
pillars in the management of HIV infection. For high-risk, non-People Living with HIV (PLHIV) individuals,
pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) should be recommended and given to reduce their risk of getting the
infection.
This e-learning module serves as a brief but comprehensive pharmacologic guide in the
treatment and prevention of HIV infection.
At the end of this learning module, participants should be able to:
Dr Raja Iskandar Shah Raja Azwa
Associate Professor and Consultant in Infectious Diseases
Clinical Lead for HIV Service
Department of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine
University of Malaya
Keywords: HIV, AIDS, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, sexually transmitted disease, HIV management, antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV treatment monitoring, HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)