During the last stage of AIDS, many opportunistic infections proliferate in persons with weakened immune systems. HIV-infected i
ndividuals who live near one another in long-term care facilities, drug treatment facilities, and prisons should be carefully screened before admission. Why?
Because they are at high risk of getting pulmonary tuberculosis.
Explanation:
An opportunistic infection is an infection caused by microorganisms that take advantage of the weakness of the body's defenses caused by HIV infection to cause damage. Opportunistic infections occur in people with compromised immune systems, allowing such organisms to cause widespread infection. In healthy individuals, microorganisms would not be allowed to proliferate to the point of causing infection because the immune system would keep them at bay.
People living with HIV are 28 times more likely to get pulmonary tuberculosis as an opportunistic disease. For this reason, HIV-infected individuals living close to each other in long-term treatment facilities, drug treatment facilities and prisons should be carefully examined prior to admission.
Answer: (D) Take appropriate Standard Precautions, apply high-concentration oxygen by nonrebreather mask, and transport the patient ASAP, carefully monitoring the patient during transport.
