HIV management in practice : South Africa has the largest HIV epidemic in the world and it is therefore imperative that all health

Abstract

This article briefly reviews the new South African HIV treatment guidelines for adults and adolescents, children and pregnant women. It focuses on the timing of the initiation of antiretroviral treatment and argues for earlier initiation. It discusses the construction of a treatment regimen and the monitoring thereof, with emphasis on the importance of HIV viral load testing. Finally, it briefly addresses issues around treatment failure and HIV prevention.