About This Manual

This guide is the collaborative effort of clinical faculty associated with the AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETC). The 2006 edition comes 13 years after the first edition, which was produced by the Midwest AIDS Training and Education Center (MATEC) and the Southeast AIDS Training and Education Center (SEATEC). The original manual was conceived to address the needs of the "midlevel" clinician--advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, etc.--who comprise a significant proportion of the HIV primary care providers in the United States (and elsewhere). Experience has shown us that the whole range of providers--physicians, pharmacists, nurse practitioners and advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, dentists, and others, appreciate the nuts-and-bolts format of the guide. This edition maintains the practical approach of prior editions, but its content has been broadened somewhat, in recognition of its wide audience.

This manual is intended for use in collaborative practice models, for example, those involving medical, nursing, physician assistant, and pharmacy staff. Geographic variations in health care practice conventions and frequent changes in HIV care require that clinicians maintain familiarity with current HIV practice standards. The treatment guidelines should be carefully reviewed by the clinical care team in your facility to make sure they conform to acceptable local and contemporary approaches. Medical treatment updates are posted frequently to several Web sites, including the http://www.aidsinfo.nih.gov site, and it is recommended that every provider be familiar with all relevant guidelines.

This manual may be reproduced in whole or in part for noncommercial use, with appropriate attribution. However, reproduction for commercial purposes is prohibited. Please note that these treatment recommendations are not intended to replace clinical research literature or current U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) guidelines, and may not include the full range of treatment options for all HIV-infected patients. Independent verification of all information is necessary before undertaking care of HIV-infected clients, particularly in the face of rapidly changing HIV treatment standards. Some recommendations are not in accord with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved usage for certain drugs, but are based on findings from clinical trials and recommendations from expert providers. For more information or to offer comments, please contact us at editor@aidsetc.org.