A patient with HIV infection has been receiving antiretroviral therapy for 2 months. At the initiation of treatment, the patient had a viral load (VL) of 60 copies/mL and a CD4 count of 450 cells/mm3
Today's lab results reveal a VL of 20 copies/mL and a CD4 cell count of 800 cells/mm3. How will the nurse interpret the patient's results?
a. A drug-resistant strain is likely.
b. The patient is progressing as expected.
c. The patient's treatment goals have been met.
d. Treatment failure has occurred.
ANS: B
The treatment goal would be a VL of < 20 copies/mL and a CD4 cell count between 800 and 1200 cells/mm3. This goal should be achieved in 16 to 24 weeks. Since this patient has shown improvement, progress has been made, and treatment should continue. A drug-resistant strain is not likely to respond to therapy. Treatment failure is not evident.
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