Prior to the H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009…

Prior to the H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009, it had been more than 40 years since an infectious virus had resulted in such substantial illness, hospitalizations, and deaths on a global scale (CDC, 2010). This can be attributed to improved prevention such as proper hygiene, as well as vaccinations and other drug therapies. However, as the H1N1 pandemic illustrates, infections are sometimes unavoidable even when appropriate prevention methods are implemented.

In clinical settings, patients present with various infections including common disorders such as flus and colds, as well as disorders that require more extensive treatment and care such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or tuberculosis (TB). As an advanced practice nurse, you must evaluate patients presenting with symptoms of infections and recommend appropriate drug treatments.

This week you begin to explore infections by considering issues surrounding the prevalence, management, and education about HIV/AIDS. You also examine viral and bacterial infections, as well as the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this week, students will:

· Analyze reasons for the prevalence of HIV/AIDS

· Analyze ways health care professionals can change society’s perceptions of HIV/AIDS

· Analyze strategies to educate HIV positive patients on treatment and management

· Analyze categories of antimicrobial agents

· Differentiate between viral and bacterial infections

· Analyze the relationship between infections and antimicrobial agents

· Understand and apply key terms, concepts, and principles related to prescribing drugs to treat infections and infestations

Photo Credit: E.M. Pasieka/ Science Photo Library/Getty Images

Learning Resources

This page contains the Learning Resources for this week. Be sure to scroll down the page to see all of this week’s assigned Learning Resources. To access select media resources, please use the media player below.

Required Readings

Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

Arcangelo, V. P., & Peterson, A. M. (Eds.). (2013). Pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice: A practical approach (3rd ed.). Ambler, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

· Chapter 8, “Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy” (pp. 96–117) This chapter covers factors that impact the selection of an antimicrobial treatment regimen. It also examines the clinical uses, adverse events, and drug interactions of various antimicrobial agents such as penicillin.

· Chapter 12, “Fungal Infections of the Skin” (pp. 141–149) This chapter explores the pathophysiology of several fungal infections of the skin as well as related drug treatments and examines the importance of patient education when managing these infections.

· Chapter 14, “Bacterial Infections of the Skin” (pp. 158–172) This chapter begins by examining causes of bacterial infections. It then explores the importance of selecting an appropriate agent for treating bacterial infections.

· Chapter 32, “Urinary Tract Infection” (pp. 474–480) This chapter covers drugs used to treat urinary tract infections and identifies special considerations when treating geriatric patients, pediatric patients, and women.

· Chapter 35, “Sexually Transmitted Infections” (pp. 512–535) This chapter outlines the causes, pathophysiology, and drug treatment of six sexually transmitted infections, including gonorrhea, syphilis, and human papilloma virus infection (HPV). It also examines the importance of selecting the proper agent and monitoring patient response to treatment.

· Chapter 48, “Human Immunodeficiency Virus” (pp. 748–762) This chapter presents the causes, pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria, and prevention methods for HIV. It also covers various methods of drug treatment and patient factors to consider when selecting, administering, and managing drug treatments.

Krummenacher, I., Cavassini, M., Bugnon, O., & Schneider, M. (2011). An interdisciplinary HIV-adherence program combining motivational interviewing and electronic antiretroviral drug monitoring. AIDS Care, 23(5), 550–561.

This article analyzes medication adherence in HIV patients and examines factors that increase adherence as well as factors that contribute to termination or discontinuation of treatment.