Chapter 45: Antiviral Drugs – HIV, Influenza & Herpes Treatment

The chapter details various clinically significant viral infections, including those caused by herpesviruses (HSV-1, HSV-2, VZV/shingles, CMV), influenza (types A and B), and coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2). Antiviral drugs, such as acyclovir and ganciclovir, function primarily by inhibiting viral replication, often by blocking polymerase enzymes, while drugs like oseltamivir act as neuraminidase inhibitors to prevent the spread of influenza virions. A major focus is placed on the management of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), a retrovirus that uses the enzyme reverse transcriptase to integrate its genetic material into the host cell DNA, eventually leading to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and susceptibility to opportunistic infections. Modern Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) is a combination of at least three drugs from several distinct classes—including reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs/NNRTIs), protease inhibitors, integrase inhibitors (raltegravir), fusion inhibitors (enfuvirtide), and CCR5 antagonists (maraviroc)—which collectively aim to achieve an undetectable viral load. Treatment is complicated by significant drug toxicities, such as bone marrow suppression (zidovudine) and metabolic abnormalities like lipodystrophy (protease inhibitors), necessitating highly individualized and long-term therapeutic regimens. The nursing process emphasizes holistic assessment, including monitoring for adverse effects (renal/hepatic toxicity), ensuring patient adherence to complex, lifelong medication schedules, and addressing the psychological and financial impacts associated with chronic illnesses like HIV.