Seafarers and HIV infection

Dr. Michaela Schuhwerk

GUM Physician

MRCP, DTMH, DipGUM, DFFP, MSc, CCST in GUM Medicine

Overview• Objectives:

To provide an overview over the following topics

I. History of epidemicII. Epidemiology (worldwide and UK)III.Clinical features of HIVIV. DiagnosisV. TreatmentVI.Relevance for occupational health physicians

I. History of the epidemic -1

• 1981 First cases of PCP pneumonia and Kaposi’s sarcoma described in USA

• 1983 Discovery of the virus. First cases of AIDS in the UK• 1984 Development of first antibody test• 1987 AZT becomes available to treat HIV• 1996: Protease inhibitors available, change dramatically

treatment of HIV• 1998 routine antenatal HIV testing with opt out policy• 2009: 33 Mio worldwide HIV infected individuals

I. History of the epidemic -2

2009:

• HIV is now a chronic treatable conditions with a near normal life expectancy

• This depends on timely diagnosis and access to antiretroviral therapy

II. HIV Epidemiology

Number of people living with HIV worldwide in 2007

Adults 31.0 million

Women 15.5 million

Children under 15 years 2.0 million

Total 33 million

People newly infected with HIV worldwide in 2007

Adults 2.7 million

Children under 15 years 370,000

Total 3.07 million

AIDS deaths worldwide in 2007

Adults 2 million

Children under 15 years 270,000

Total 2.7 million

Source: UNAIDS/WHO AIDS Epidemic Update: December 2007

Global trends of HIV infection

UK epidemiology 2007• 73 000 individuals HIV positive• Prevalence UK: 0.12 %• Proportion of risk groups infected

– 43% MSM– 31% Heterosexual women– 21% Heterosexual men– 4% IVDU

• 61% of all cases in African born individuals unaware of diagnosis

• 29% of HIV cases undiagnosed (21600)

Estimated late diagnosis1 of HIV infection and AIDS at HIV diagnosis by prevention group, UK: 2006

1CD4 cell count less than 200 cells/mm3 within 30 days of diagnosis among adults (aged >14 years)

HIV/AIDS diagnoses and death reports, and surveillance of CD4 cell counts in HIV-infected persons

MSM

n=2,301 n=1,388 n=2,339 n=156 n=6,977

20%

43%

11%

36%

9%

37%

6%

33%

8%

5%

Male heterosexuals Female heterosexuals IDU

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50% Patients with CD4 count under 200 cells/mm within 30 days of diagnosis3

Patients with a clinical AIDS diagnosis within 3 months of HIV diagnosis

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Overall

III. Clinical features of HIV infection

III. Clinical Features

1. Seroconversion illness - seen in 10% of individuals a few weeks after exposure and coincides with seroconversion. Presents with an infectious mononucleosis like illness.

2. Incubation period - this is the period when the patient is completely asymptomatic and may vary from a few months to a more than 10 years. The median incubation period is 8-10 years.

3. AIDS-related complex or persistent generalized lymphadenopathy.

4. Full-blown AIDS.

IV. Opportunistic Infections

Protozoal pneumocystis carinii (now thought to be a fungi),

toxoplasmosis, crytosporidosis

Fungal candidiasis, crytococcosis

histoplasmosis, coccidiodomycosis

Bacterial Mycobacterium avium complex, MTB

atypical mycobacterial disease

salmonella septicaemia

multiple or recurrent pyogenic bacterial infection

Viral CMV, HSV, VZV, JCV

Opportunistic Tumours

• The most frequent opportunistic tumour, Kaposi's sarcoma, is observed in 20% of patients with AIDS.

• KS is observed mostly in homosexuals and its relative incidence is declining. It is now associated with a human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8).

• Malignant lymphomas are also frequently seen in AIDS patients.

Kaposi’s Sarcoma

Oral hairy leukoplakia

Oral hairy leukoplakia

Other Manifestations

• It is now recognised that HIV-infected patients may develop a number of manifestations that are not explained by opportunistic infections or tumours.

• The most frequent neurological disorder is AIDS encephalopathy which is seen in two thirds of cases.

• Other manifestations include characteristic skin eruptions and persistent diarrhoea.

IV. Diagnosis

• 1. Clinical diagnosis because of suspicious features, high risk group or reported symptoms

• 2. Laboratory diagnosis

Laboratory Diagnosis

• Antibody tests only: window period up to 3 months

• Combination ag/ab tests: p24/antibody tests positive after 4 weeks

• In special circumstances pro viral DNA

VI. Treatment

HIV life cycle

VI. Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART)

1. Nucleoside RTIsZiduvudine, Lamivudine, Stavudine, Didanosine, Abacavir, Emtricitabine,

2. Nucleotide RTIsTenofovir,

3. NNRTIs(Efavirenz, Nevirapine, Etravirine)

4. Protease inhibitorsAmprenavir, Atazanavir, Fosamprenavir, Indinavir, Lopinavir, Nelfinavir, Ritonavir, Saquinavir), Tipranavir

5. Fusion inhibitorsEnfurvirtide (T 20), sc injections

6. CCR5 InhibitorsMaraviroc

7. Integrase inhibitors Raltegravir

V. Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART)Fixed dose combinations:

Atripla(FTC/tenefovir/Efavirenz)

Combivir3TC/Zidovudine

TruvadaFCT/Tenofovir

KaletraLopinavir/ritonavir

KivexaAbacavir/lamivudine

Trizivir3TC/Zidovudine/Abacavir

HAART

Advantages:

• Hugh impact on mortality and morbidity• Newer regimen fewer pill burden and less side

effects• Decrease in HIV transmission (vertical and

horizontal)

HAART

Disadvantages:

• Drug side-effectscommon (GI, rash, blood abnormalities)lipodystropyresistance Immune resconstitutionLactic acidosishypersensitivity

• Cost• Availability• “Complacency”

Lipodystrophy

VI. Relevance for Seafarer’ occupational health physicians

Important facts:•HIV different disease in 2009

The HIV positive seafarer

»Fit or not?

HIV positive seafarer• In all cases of confirmed HIV positive status the

assessment and decision taking process should be informed by advice from the clinician responsible for the care of the individual. It is the clinician and not the Approved Doctor who is responsible for the determining the frequency of surveillance needed to guide clinical care, where it needs to take place and for treatment while the seafarer is at sea. However it is for the Approved Doctor to take the final decision and issue a fitness certificate in line with the guidance below.

•

The HIV positive seafarer

Routine pre employment HIV testing is not recommended.

Yet: HIV testing is recommended and should strongly be suggested, if an individual, unknown to be HIV positive, exhibits physical signs during the medical examination, that rise suspicion of advanced HIV disease (and as such would be at greater risk to his/her health if undiagnosed than the implications of a positive HIV diagnosis to his/her employment otherwise.

Criteria for fitness decision

• CD4 count > 350 ?• Clinically well/ asymptomatic?• Any AIDS defining illnesses? If yes, which?• On HAART?

– If yes, since when?– Any side effects– Compliance– resistance

Clinical stage 1

• Acute retroviral infection• Asymptomatic

• Persistent generalized lymphadenopathy• Performance scale 1: asymptomatic,

normal activity

Clinical stage 2

• Clinical Stage 2• Weight loss, < 10% of body mass• Minor mucocutaneous manifestations• Herpes Zoster in the last 5 years

• Recurrent upper respiratory tract infection• Performance scale 2: Symptomatic, normal

activity

Clinical Stage 3

• Weight loss, >10% of body mass• Unexplained chronic diarrhoea>1 month• Unexplained prolonged fever> 1 month• Oral candidiasis, Oral hairy leukoplakia• Pulmonary tuberculosis, Severe Bacterial

infections• Performance scale 3: bed ridden < 50% of the

day during the last month.

Clinical stage 4

• AIDS complex• HIV wasting syndrome: weight loss >10% body

mass, plus unexplained chronic diarrhoea (>1 month) or chronic weakness and unexplained fever(>1 month)

• Performance Scale 4: bedridden for>50% day during the last month.

HIV seafarer and fitness categories

• Category 1 Fitness:(no restrictions)– Stage 1– No complications– CD4 count above 350 and never been on

treatment

Limit duration to time of next specialist appointment if start of HAART is anticipated.

HIV seafarer and fitness categories• Category 2 Fitness:(fit with restrictions)

• Stage 2• CD4 count above 350 and seafarer on antiretroviral

medication that needs regular monitoring;

Restriction s apply to 1) proof of regular treatment monitoring by specialist and 2) locality: near coastal: until well established on antiretroviral

regimen when specialist screening interval is only every 3-6 months

HIV seafarer and fitness categories• Category 3 Fitness (temporarily unfit)• Stage 3 (if symptoms impact significantly on

performance status; e.g. oral candidiasis should not lead to being temporarily unfit)

• Initiation and change of antiretroviral therapy

• AIDS diagnosis: Most AIDS defining conditions that can be treated and in

conjunction with antiretroviral therapy will significantly reduce the chance of relapse or further AIDS defining illnesses. The CD4 count should be as a minimum above 200 and the seafarer on antiretroviral medication.

HIV seafarer and fitness categories

• Category 4: (permanently unfit):• No scope for improvement in condition

(mainly limited to late diagnosis of HIV disease with CD4 counts often <=100, Lymphomas, Dementia, loss of vision with CMV retinitis etc).

• Resistant to all antiretroviral regimens with likelihood of CD4 count falling

Finally

• HIV very different disease in 2009 from 1983!• Chronic treatable condition• Survival very different only if HIV status

known!• Early diagnosis very important• High level of suspicion in certain groups and

with certain clinical signs• Diagnosis prolongs life!!!

Thank you!

• Important Websites:• www.bhiva.org.uk• www.medfash.org.uk• http://www.hiv-druginteractions.org• M.schuhwerk@doctors.org.uk