Virological aspects of human immunodeficiency virus infection.

HIV can be acquired only through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of infected individuals. There is therefore no risk of contracting or transmitting HIV through normal social contact with HIV-infected individuals. However in health care settings universal precautions must be applied with all patients under the assumption that they could be infected with HIV and are therefore infectious. The virology of HIV infection is reviewed in sections on virology transmission life cycle pathogenesis and laboratory diagnosis. The diagnosis of HIV infection is more accurate than for any other infection reflecting the importance of HIV as an infectious agent and the implications of infection. While treatment against HIV and AIDS has improved curative therapy remains to be developed. Preventing HIV infection therefore remains the central strategy against AIDS.