148
P A R T 2
Chemotherapeutic agents
■■
HIV, which specifically attacks helper T cells, may
remain dormant in T cells for long periods and has
been known to mutate easily.
■■
Antiviral agents that are effective against HIV
and AIDS include non-nucleoside and nucleoside
reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors,
fusion inhibitors, CCR5 coreceptor antagonists and
integrase inhibitors, all of which affect the way the
virus communicates, replicates or matures within the
cell. These drugs are known as antiretroviral agents.
They are given in combination to most effectively
destroy the HIV virus and prevent mutation.
■■
Three drugs are used to treat hepatitis B infection:
adefovir, entecavir and telbivudine.
■■
Two drugs are used to treat hepatitis C infection:
boceprevir and telaprevir.
Knowing your strengths and weaknesses helps you to
study more effectively. Take a PrepU Practice Quiz
to find out how you measure up!
ONLINE RESOURCES
An extensive range of additional resources to enhance teaching
and learning and to facilitate understanding of this chapter may
be found online at the text’s accompanying website, located on
thePoint at
These include Watch and
Learn videos, Concepts in Action animations, journal articles,
review questions, case studies, discussion topics and quizzes.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Australasian Society for HIV Medicine. (2009).
HIV Management
in Australasia: A Guide for Clinical Care.
Sydney: Australasian
Society for HIV Medicine.
/
Publications/Monographs/HIV_Management_Australasia/HIV-
Management-Australia-2009.pdf.
Batey, R. (2006). Managing hepatitis C in the community.
Australian Prescriber, 29,
36–39.
Bell, S. J. & Nguyen, T. (2009). The management of hepatitis B.
Australian Prescriber, 32,
99–104.
Boyd, M. & Pett, S. (2008). HIV fusion inhibitors: A review.
Australian Prescriber, 31,
66–69.
Coery, L., Wald, A., Patel, R., Sacks, S. L., Tyring, S. K., Warren, T.,
et al. (2004). Once-daily valacyclovir to reduce the risk of
transmission of genital herpes.
New England Journal of
Medicine 350,
11–20.
Farrell, M. & Dempsey, J. (2014).
Smeltzer & Bare’s Textbook
of Medical-Surgical Nursing
(3rd edn). Sydney: Lippincott,
Williams & Wilkins.
Gilman, A., Hardman, J. G. & Limbird, L. E. (Eds.). (2006).
Goodman and Gilman’s the Pharmacological Basis of
Therapeutics
(11th edn). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Idemyor, V. (2003). Twenty years since human immunodeficiency
virus discovery: Considerations for the next decade.
Pharmacotherapy, 23,
384–387.
Kaiser, L., Wat, C., Mills, T., Mahoney, P., Ward, P. & Hayden, F.
(2003). Impact of oseltamivir treatment on influenza-related
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McKenna, L. (2012).
Pharmacology Made Incredibly Easy
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Williams & Wilkins.
McKenna, L. & Mirkov, S. (2014).
McKenna’s Drug Handbook for
Nursing and Midwifery
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& Wilkins.
Porth, C. M. (2011).
Essentials of Pathophysiology: Concepts
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Williams & Wilkins.
Porth, C. M. (2009).
Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered
Health States
(8th edn). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins.
Wehrhahn, M. C. & Dwyer, D. E. (2012). Herpes zoster:
epidemiology, clinical features, treatment and prevention.
Australian Prescriber, 35,
143–147.
C H E C K Y O U R U N D E R S T A N D I N G
Answers to the questions in this chapter can be found in
Appendix A at the back of this book.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Select the best answer to the following.
1.
In assessing a person, a viral cause might be
suspected if the person was diagnosed with:
a.
tuberculosis.
b.
leprosy.
c.
the common cold.
d.
gonorrhoea.
2.
Virus infections have proved difficult to treat
because they:
a.
have a protein coat.
b.
inject themselves into human cells to survive and
to reproduce.
c.
are bits of RNA or DNA.
d.
easily resist drug therapy.
3.
Naturally occurring substances that are released in
the body in response to viral invasion are called:
a.
antibodies.
b.
immunoglobulins.
c.
interferons.
d.
interleukins.
