Overview: Management of HIV in Primary Care

The full newsletter Management of HIV in Primary Care, prescribing information and CME self-assessment are free for both AMA members and non-members.

The growing number of antiretroviral drugs approved for treatment of HIV-1 infection has resulted in ever-increasing complexity in the management of patients with HIV/AIDS. For this reason, much of the care of HIV-infected patients is delivered by clinicians with particular expertise in this area. However, as patients live longer due to the benefits of antiretroviral therapy, they are more likely to develop “ordinary” medical problems, including those associated with advancing age. Thus, it is likely that physicians in all specialties will come across HIV-infected patients at some time in their careers, and a basic familiarity with the concepts surrounding the management of HIV/AIDS is essential.

Moreover, because most people are referred to an HIV specialist only after a diagnosis of HIV infection has been made, primary care physicians play an essential role in screening their patients for HIV, and in counseling patients on HIV prevention strategies. This newsletter reviews information about the diagnosis and general management of HIV infection for the primary care physician.

In "Management of HIV in Primary Care" physicians will learn:

• The proportion of healthcare providers who prescribe antiretroviral fixed-dose combinations dispensed through retail pharmacies.
• Differences in the treatment of HIV-infected individuals by age group.
• Comorbid burden in HIV-infected individuals.
• Overview of antiretroviral regimens.

The full newsletter will provide you further insights into the use of antiretroviral therapy.

View the full newsletter "Management of HIV in Primary Care" and learn how to receive CME credit. Newsletters are available to all physicians, not just AMA members.