INTRODUCTION

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the body’s immune system by targeting a specific type of white blood cell, called CD4 cells. CD4 cells help the body fight infection by signaling an immune response when a foreign substance is present. The normal CD4 count range is 500-1500cells/mm³ of blood.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the most advanced stage of the HIV virus. AIDS occur when the CD4 count falls below 200 cells/mm³. Depletion of the CD4 cells will leave the person susceptible to opportunistic infections. Opportunistic infections (OIs) are infections that occur more frequently and are more severe in people with weakened immune systems that do not usually cause disease in normal immunity. Infections are likely to develop as the immune system is compromised. People living with HIV are living longer due to the widespread development of antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART suppresses viral load and improves the function of the immune system. With correct ART therapy, the immune system can function properly and reduce disease progression.

Reference: HIV and AIDS: The Basics | NIH

EPIDEMIOLOGY

HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) was first documented 1981 and has been an ongoing worldwide epidemic. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are approximately 38.4 million people living with HIV worldwide, of those, an estimated 1.2 million people 13 years and older are living with HIV in the United States. Although, there have been advances in treatment, allowing those affected to live longer and healthier lives, HIV still disproportionately affects certain populations such as, Blacks/African Americans, sex workers and their clients, men who have sex with men (MSM), injection drug users, and transgender people and their sexual partners. Adults 45-54 and 55 years of age and older accounting for the largest number of persons living with diagnosed or undiagnosed HIV respectively. These age groups also had the highest HIV prevalence rate.¹²

Among the four regions in the United States, the Southern region has the highest amount of people living with HIV (481,815 persons), while the Northeast region has the highest rate of those living with HIV (411.4 cases per every 100,000 people).

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 158 adults in Florida are known to be living with HIV (110,034 people total). Florida has the third-highest number of people living with HIV in the United States following Washington DC at #1 and Georgia at