ART & Viral Load Suppression

Antiretroviral treatment (ART) of HIV to achieve viral load suppression is an important step in the HIV Care Continuum. If a person living with HIV is on ART, and their viral load is undetectable, there is essentially no risk of transmitting HIV to another person through sex. Earlier start of ART from the moment of diagnosis is correlated to a number of improved health outcomes for patients. The Pacific AETC offers trainings and technical assistance to providers on recommended treatment regimens, and strategies to improve health systems and services to ensure patient’s newly diagnosed with HIV get access to ART as soon as possible. We will also help providers support patients to continue to be adherent to their medications so they can achieve viral load suppression.

Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) Basics

ART stands for antiretroviral treatment. These are essentially medications that reduce the level of the HIV virus in the body. When the level of the virus (or viral load) is undetectable, it is untransmittable to another person through sexual contact. ART should be started as soon as one can, and many providers are offering same-day treatment of ART (RAPID ART). The process starts with a prompt discussion with a health provider, in order to assess the individual’s scenario. When taken as prescribed, ART helps those who have been diagnosed with HIV live long, fulfilling lives. The Pacific AETC offers clinical consultations, distance-based learning, communities of practice, and presentations regarding the guidelines of ART.

Local Partner Experts:
Pacific AETC – Bay Area, North & Central Coast Pacific AETC – Central Valley & Northern Interior Pacific AETC – Hawai`i & US-Affiliated Pacific Islands Pacific AETC – Los Angeles Area Pacific AETC – Nevada Pacific AETC – Orange County & Inland Empire

Resistance Testing

Occasionally, the virus can change and become be resistant to antiretroviral drugs. This happens when someone with HIV does not have sufficient levels of medications in their systems to suppress the HIV virus. Resistance testing is a specific type of HIV testing that identifies if the HIV virus strain is resistant to any type of antiretroviral drug. If that strain of virus is transmitted to someone else, that newly infected person’s virus can have the same resistances. Resistance testing grants providers a more specific plan for combating the virus with other antiretroviral drugs that are not shown to have resistance an individual’s HIV virus strain.

Local Partner Experts:
Pacific AETC – Arizona Pacific AETC – Bay Area, North & Central Coast Pacific AETC – Los Angeles Area Pacific AETC – Nevada Pacific AETC – Orange County & Inland Empire Pacific AETC – San Diego & Imperial

Opportunistic Infections

Opportunistic infections often are the leading cause of deaths of those who are HIV positive. When the immune system is weak on account of the virus, this facilitates the entry of many other illnesses into the body. Normally the immune system is adept at combating these diseases, but for people with HIV who are not on antiretroviral treatment (ART) these diseases can prove too strong for that persons immune system to combat naturally.

Local Partner Experts:
Pacific AETC – Central Valley & Northern Interior Pacific AETC – Los Angeles Area Pacific AETC – Nevada Pacific AETC – Orange County & Inland Empire

Clinical Management for HIV

The clinical management of HIV involves all areas under the HIV care continuum (Diagnosis, linkage to care, retention, antiretroviral medication, and viral suppression). With this training, health providers are able to understand what the management of HIV resembles at the clinical level, and which clinical tasks can be shifted away from the medical providers to other supportive staff (nurses, medical assistants, health navigators, and case managers). Pacific AETC offers presentations, communities of practice, distance-based learning, and clinical consultations regarding the clinical management for HIV.

Local Partner Experts:
Pacific AETC – Arizona Pacific AETC – Bay Area, North & Central Coast Pacific AETC – Hawai`i & US-Affiliated Pacific Islands Pacific AETC – Los Angeles Area Pacific AETC – Nevada Pacific AETC – Orange County & Inland Empire Pacific AETC – San Diego & Imperial