Room:
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Linked to EAHP Statements:
Section 2: Selection, Procurement and Distribution
Section 4: Clinical Pharmacy Services
ACPE UAN:0475-0000-16-016-L04-P. A knowledge based activity.
Abstract
Thirty-five years ago in 1981 the American CDC (Centers for Disease Control) reported five cases of Pneumocystis pneumonia in five previously healthy young men and hypothesized about a cellular-immune dysfunction as the underlying cause. This report is now acknowledged as the first scientific report on what would become known as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Eight years later, in 1989, the discovery of the Hepatitis C virus shed light on the majority of, at that time unexplainable cases of non-A and non-B virus hepatitis. Since then, significant research efforts have been undertaken to better understand the two viruses and associated diseases, raise awareness, prevent transmission and develop effective antiviral treatments against HIV and Hepatitis C virus. Nevertheless, both diseases still represent a major public health burden with high prevalence of infected people and no decline of new HIV infections in Europe (European Centre for Disease Control 2014).
The accomplished achievements in medicines development led to a variety of antiviral treatments for HIV during the last three decades. Especially, the possibilities of Hepatitis C treatment have dramatically changed with the advent of new direct antiviral agents in the last 5 years. For hospital pharmacists it is crucial to keep track of new antiviral treatments and their effectiveness and safety in daily practice and to have state-of-the-art knowledge of HIV and Hepatitis C virus treatment guidelines.
• To provide a succinct update on current HIV and Hepatitis C treatment guidelines;
• To inform hospital pharmacists about treatment strategies in development that can be expected in the (near) future (e.g. medicines, vaccinations).