Literature Review - Assignment Sample PDF

Running head: LITERATURE REVIEW
LITERATURE REVIEW
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LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction:
HIV can be defined as the virus that has the capability of affecting the immune system of
the body. Researchers are of the opinion that this virus is seen to mainly attack specifically the
CD4 cells that are called the T cells. In course of time, the virus destroys huge number of these
cells that help the body in fighting with different infections and disorders (Schwartz et al., 2015).
Hence, when the individuals affected by HIV remain untreated, it results in reduction of huge
number of CD4 cells in the body. It affects the immune system of the body making it difficult for
the body to fight infections and other disorders (Krishnan et al., 2015). In such situations,
opportunistic infections and cancers are seen to take advantage of the weak immune system of
the affected individuals and this signals that the person has AIDS called the autoimmune
deficiency syndrome (Furgang, 2015). This assignment would conduct a literature review on
different important aspects of HIV and current information regarding each aspect would be
discussed.
Modes of transmission:
Baggaley et al. (2015) have put forward important information about the ways by which
HIV can be transmitted to healthy human beings. The researchers have identified a number of
activities that makes individuals vulnerable to HIV infection. The paper states that unprotected
sexual contact involving semen, pre-cum, vaginal fluids and blood is one mode of transmission.
Direct blood contact that mainly occurs through the sharing of injection drug needles is another
mode of transmission. Moreover, infections are also seen to spread through blood transfusions
that might happen through accidents in the healthcare settings or certain other blood products. It
might also spread from mother to babies; this might take place before and during birth and even

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LITERATURE REVIEW
through breastfeeding through breast milk (Fogel et al., 2016). This would be helping them to
develop health education sessions and would help them to focus on development of the
knowledge on actions among the individuals who are prone to adopt such risky habits
(Degenhardt et al., 2014). Schwartz et al. (2015) had supported the claims made by the above-
mentioned article. The first mode of transmission is the sexual intercourse. Unprotected anal
andvaginal intercourse is some of the high-risk activities. The virus might enter the penis, vagina
and anus through cuts and sores or might also be directly transmitted through mucus membranes.
Another way is the oral sex medium of transmission (Furgang, 2015). It is considered to be a
low risk practice but it cannot be completely risk free. Another mode of transmission is the
sharing of needles andother materials that are used for injecting. This is considered to be a high-
risk practice. Injection needles have the capability of passing blood from one person to another
person if they are shared. Mother to child is one another mode of transmission as the virus can
get transmitted from the mother to the fetus during the time of birth and during breast-milk
consumption.
Myths and misunderstandings:
Gunthardt et al. (2016) had conducted a study that had been very interesting to the
readers, as it had captured the myths and misunderstandings that many individuals have
regarding the transmission modes of HIV. The body fluids that are not infectious and cannot be a
medium for the transmission of AIDS are saliva and spit. Tears and sweat are also not the
mediums that can cause transmission of HIV. Feces and urine are also not the mediums that have
the capability of spreading HIV (Saag et al., 2018). Hence, this information can be used in the
health promotion programs and during education of the nurses in a community to prevent people
from developing misunderstanding and treating infected persons improperly.

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LITERATURE REVIEW
Mode of action:
Stanley eta l. (2017) had opined that HIV can affect different types of cells but mostly
they target the cells of the immune system. After infecting the cells, they can produce hundreds
of new copies if HIV. One interesting discovery made in the studies is that several kinds of
immune system cells have proteins on their surface that are called CD4 receptors. This virus is
seen to search for CD4 receptors as the CD4 proteins help the virus in binding to the cells.
Studies show that the main target for the virus is the white blood cell called the T4
lymphocyte or the T helper cells. This T4 cells is seen to be responsible
for warning the immune system that there are invaders who might affect
the body systems. Once the HIV is found to be inside the cell, it hides its
DNA inside the DNA of the cell (Masur et al., 2014). This is seen to turn
the cell into a type of factory where several copies of the HIV virus are
formed.
Stages of replication:
Wagh et al. (2016) had given a detailed description of the seven
important stages that the HIV undertakes to infect the cell completely.
The first step is called the binding stage. Proteins present on the outside
of the HIV are found to be strongly attracted to and thereby connect with
the CD4+ receptors that are present on the T4 cells. After this binding
occurs, the other proteins, which are present on the cell surface, also are