ATI Advanced
Medical-
Surgical
Nursing
Study Guide
for Critical
Care latest
summarized
2026
,
, lOMoAR cPSD| 64664050
IMMUNE DEFICIENCIES
HIV
- Virus “retrovirus”, attacks CD4 T cell “helper T cell”
- HIV vs AIDS o Based on # of CD4 T cells
o Presence of opportunistic infections
Pneumocystis pneumonia, toxoplasmosis, tuberculosis, histoplasmosis
- Transmission
o Sexual (semen, vaginal secretions), caused by genital, anal or oral sex o
Parenteral (sharing of needles or equipment contaminated with infected blood o
Perinatal (placenta, contact with maternal blood and body fluids during birth,
breast milk
No breastfeeding, on meds while pregnant to decrease viral load
- Prevention
o Condoms, cleaning/sterilizing drug paraphernalia, needle exchange programs,
blood products screened for the HIV antibody, drug therapy for pregnant
mothers, use of standard precautions with HCP
May double glove
- Diagnostics o Antibody test
Elisa – most inexpensive, if positive they do western blot to confirm
Western Blot – 4 antigens, if pt has 2/4 they are considered positive
May be negative for up to 6 months
- Classifications o Progression depends on health, age, risk factors
o A diagnosis of AIDS requires that the person be HIV positive and have either a
CD4+ T cell count of less than 200 or an opportunistic infection o The
person with HIV infection can transmit the virus to others at all stages of
disease, but the recently infected person with a high viral load and those at end
stage without drug therapy can be particularly infectious.
o Stage 1
Confirmed HIV and CD4 count >500 or 29% or
> o Stage 2
Confirmed HIV and CD4 count of 200-499 or
14-28% o Stage 3
Confirmed HIV, CD4 count <200 or <14%, and
has a documented AIDS defining illness
o Stage 4
1
Downloaded by Weykey Pinn ()
, lOMoAR cPSD| 64664050
Confirmed HIV, no information about CD4 count and has an AIDS defining
illness
- Manifestations
o Early (4 weeks from infection): Fever, night sweats, chills, headache, muscle
aches, rash, sore throat
- Treatment
o Antiretroviral meds
HAART (highly active retroviral therapy) – never miss a dose!
o Treat complications
PCP “pneumocystis Carnii pneumonia
• Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim o Pt can have adverse reaction
such as nausea, comiting, hyponatremia, rashes, fever,
leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and hepatitis
• Bronchodilators
• Spread out activities, elevate HOB, give O2
Pain
• Enlarged lymph nodes o
Compressing nerves
• Peripheral neuropathy o
Side effects of meds
• Reposition, distraction,
breathing exercises,
pressure relieving
mattress, hot and cold
compress
Imbalanced nutrition
Thrush – don’t want to eat o Give high calorie high protein diet.
Give foods they like, softer foods, and provide good oral
care.
Diarrhea
Side effects of meds o Provide skin care, use a flexoseal to stop
diarrhea from coming in contact with skin, give fluids to
maintain hydration, and avoid spicy food to prevent bowel
irritation
Skin Integrity
Kaposi’s sarcoma o Lesions, can cause
pain if large
2
Downloaded by Weykey Pinn ()
Medical-
Surgical
Nursing
Study Guide
for Critical
Care latest
summarized
2026
,
, lOMoAR cPSD| 64664050
IMMUNE DEFICIENCIES
HIV
- Virus “retrovirus”, attacks CD4 T cell “helper T cell”
- HIV vs AIDS o Based on # of CD4 T cells
o Presence of opportunistic infections
Pneumocystis pneumonia, toxoplasmosis, tuberculosis, histoplasmosis
- Transmission
o Sexual (semen, vaginal secretions), caused by genital, anal or oral sex o
Parenteral (sharing of needles or equipment contaminated with infected blood o
Perinatal (placenta, contact with maternal blood and body fluids during birth,
breast milk
No breastfeeding, on meds while pregnant to decrease viral load
- Prevention
o Condoms, cleaning/sterilizing drug paraphernalia, needle exchange programs,
blood products screened for the HIV antibody, drug therapy for pregnant
mothers, use of standard precautions with HCP
May double glove
- Diagnostics o Antibody test
Elisa – most inexpensive, if positive they do western blot to confirm
Western Blot – 4 antigens, if pt has 2/4 they are considered positive
May be negative for up to 6 months
- Classifications o Progression depends on health, age, risk factors
o A diagnosis of AIDS requires that the person be HIV positive and have either a
CD4+ T cell count of less than 200 or an opportunistic infection o The
person with HIV infection can transmit the virus to others at all stages of
disease, but the recently infected person with a high viral load and those at end
stage without drug therapy can be particularly infectious.
o Stage 1
Confirmed HIV and CD4 count >500 or 29% or
> o Stage 2
Confirmed HIV and CD4 count of 200-499 or
14-28% o Stage 3
Confirmed HIV, CD4 count <200 or <14%, and
has a documented AIDS defining illness
o Stage 4
1
Downloaded by Weykey Pinn ()
, lOMoAR cPSD| 64664050
Confirmed HIV, no information about CD4 count and has an AIDS defining
illness
- Manifestations
o Early (4 weeks from infection): Fever, night sweats, chills, headache, muscle
aches, rash, sore throat
- Treatment
o Antiretroviral meds
HAART (highly active retroviral therapy) – never miss a dose!
o Treat complications
PCP “pneumocystis Carnii pneumonia
• Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim o Pt can have adverse reaction
such as nausea, comiting, hyponatremia, rashes, fever,
leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and hepatitis
• Bronchodilators
• Spread out activities, elevate HOB, give O2
Pain
• Enlarged lymph nodes o
Compressing nerves
• Peripheral neuropathy o
Side effects of meds
• Reposition, distraction,
breathing exercises,
pressure relieving
mattress, hot and cold
compress
Imbalanced nutrition
Thrush – don’t want to eat o Give high calorie high protein diet.
Give foods they like, softer foods, and provide good oral
care.
Diarrhea
Side effects of meds o Provide skin care, use a flexoseal to stop
diarrhea from coming in contact with skin, give fluids to
maintain hydration, and avoid spicy food to prevent bowel
irritation
Skin Integrity
Kaposi’s sarcoma o Lesions, can cause
pain if large
2
Downloaded by Weykey Pinn ()
