Which drug is used to treat HIV/AIDS?

RRB Nsg. Superintendent 21 July 2019 (shift 1st)

Pharmacology

Easy

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent 21 July 2019 (shift 1st)

Explanation

Zidovudine is an antiretroviral drug belonging to the class of Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs).
Its primary mechanism is to block the action of the reverse transcriptase enzyme, which is essential for the HIV virus to replicate its genetic material.
By inhibiting viral replication, Zidovudine helps to lower the viral load in the body.
It is a cornerstone medication used in combination therapies (HAART) for managing HIV and is also crucial for preventing mother-to-child transmission of the virus.

Option A: Ampicillin is a broad-spectrum penicillin antibiotic. It is effective against bacterial infections but has no activity against viruses like HIV.
Option B: Dexamethasone is a potent corticosteroid. It is used to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system. It does not target the HIV virus itself.
Option C: Streptomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic. Its primary use is in the multi-drug treatment regimen for Tuberculosis (TB). It is not an antiretroviral agent.

Visual 1: Diagram: Mechanism of Action of NRTIs. A visual flowchart showing how Zidovudine gets incorporated into the viral DNA chain by the reverse transcriptase enzyme, causing termination of the chain and halting viral replication.
Visual 2: Table: Drug Classification. A summary table categorizing the four drugs (Zidovudine, Ampicillin, Dexamethasone, Streptomycin) by their class, mechanism, and primary clinical indication.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Pharmacology: Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV/AIDS helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
A key nursing responsibility when administering Zidovudine is to monitor for its major adverse effect: bone marrow suppression. This requires regular monitoring of the patient's complete blood count (CBC) for signs of anemia and neutropenia.
Patient education is critical. Nurses must teach patients about the importance of strict adherence to their antiretroviral regimen to prevent the development of drug-resistant HIV strains and maintain viral suppression.
What if? If a patient on Zidovudine for HIV develops bacterial pneumonia, the correct action is to continue the Zidovudine to manage HIV while also starting an appropriate antibiotic, like Ampicillin, to treat the secondary bacterial infection.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: it asks for a drug specifically to treat the HIV/AIDS virus.
Next, analyze the options by recalling or identifying their pharmacological class and primary purpose.
Categorize each drug: Ampicillin is an antibiotic, Dexamethasone is a steroid, Streptomycin is an antibiotic (mainly for TB), and Zidovudine is an antiretroviral.
Eliminate the options that do not treat viral infections. Antibiotics are for bacteria, and steroids are for inflammation.
This leaves Zidovudine, which falls into the specific category of antiretroviral medications designed to combat HIV.
Confirm the choice by recalling that Zidovudine (AZT) was one of the first and most well-known drugs for HIV treatment.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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