ID Board Review/Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection

Questions relating to HIV can account for 15% of the Study Guide for the ABIM Infectious Disease Certification Exam|ABIM ID Certification Exam, making it the single most important infection on the test. In addition to knowing how to diagnose and treat HIV infections, physicians must know how to manage the myriad of complications that HIV can cause patients, as well as how to properly screen and manage those complications.

HIV Epidemiology

• HIV Transmission
• HIV Testing and Counseling
• HIV Initial Laboratory Evaluation
• HIV Prevention

HIV Pathogenesis

• HIV Virology
• HIV Immunopathogenesis
• Acute HIV Infection

Laboratory Testing

• HIV Diagnostic Evaluation
• HIV Baseline Evaluation

HIV Treatment Regimens

• When to Start HIV Therapy
• Antiretroviral Therapies by Classes
• Selection of Optimal Initial HIV Regimen
• Treatment-Experienced HIV Patients
• Adverse Effects of Treatment (Table)
• Drug-Drug Interactions (Table)
• HIV Laboratory Monitoring (Table)

Complications of HIV

Opportunistic Infections (OIs)

• OI Prevention
• When to start HIV therapy in context of active OIs
• Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS)
• Opportunistic Bacteria
• Opportunistic Mycobacteria
• Opportunistic Viruses
• Opportunistic Fungi
• Opportunistic Parasites

Malignancies Associated with HIV

• Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS)
• Lymphomas
• Cervical Cancer
• Anal Cancer

Other Complications of HIV

• Hematologic Complications of HIV
• Endocrine Complications of HIV
• Gastrointestinal Complications of HIV
• Renal Complications of HIV
• Cardio-metabolic Complications of HIV and Therapies
• Pulmonary Complications of HIV
• Head, Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat (HENT) Complications of HIV
• Musculoskeletal Complications of HIV
• Neurologic Complications of HIV
• Psychiatric Complications of HIV
• Dermatologic Complications of HIV

Medical Issues Related to HIV

• HIV in Pregnancy
• Substance Use Related to HIV
• Organ Transplantation and HIV
• Primary Care in HIV Patients
• Miscellaneous non-HIV-related complications that may occur more commonly in HIV Pts

Other Sources and Resources

• National HIV Curriculum: https://www.hiv.uw.edu/alternate
• Department for Health and Higher Standards (DHHS) Guidelines: https://clinicalinfo.hiv.gov/en/guidelines