Treatment of Adult HIV Infection: Antiretroviral Update and Overview

Up-to-date guidelines for nurse practitioners are critically important to keep up with the continuous advances in HIV treatment. With a key understanding of viral replication, combination therapy, treatment failure, and drug toxicities, the provider is able to have these reference tools to assist in monitoring the infection. Research development continues with a focus on new classes to inhibit different parts of the HIV cycle and drug class resistance and to determine the first- and second-line antiretroviral therapy. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the highly active antiretroviral therapy, basic understanding of when to initiate therapy, how to manage patients receiving these medications, treatment regimens, and useful guidelines.