1. Seafarers and HIV infection
Dr. Michaela Schuhwerk
GUM Physician
MRCP, DTMH, DipGUM, DFFP, MSc, CCST in GUM Medicine

2. Overview Objectives: I. History of epidemic
To provide an overview over the following topics
I. History of epidemic
Epidemiology (worldwide and UK)
Clinical features of HIV
IV. Diagnosis
V. Treatment
VI. Relevance for occupational health physicians

3. I. History of the epidemic -1
1981 First cases of PCP pneumonia and Kaposi’s sarcoma described in USA
1983 Discovery of the virus. First cases of AIDS in the UK
1984 Development of first antibody test
1987 AZT becomes available to treat HIV
1996: Protease inhibitors available, change dramatically treatment of HIV
1998 routine antenatal HIV testing with opt out policy
2009: 33 Mio worldwide HIV infected individuals

4. I. History of the epidemic -2
2009:
HIV is now a chronic treatable conditions with a near normal life expectancy
This depends on timely diagnosis and access to antiretroviral therapy

5. II. HIV Epidemiology

6. Source: UNAIDS/WHO AIDS Epidemic Update: December 2007
Number of people living with HIV worldwide in 2007
Adults
31.0 million
Women
15.5 million
Children under 15 years
2.0 million
Total
33 million
People newly infected with HIV worldwide in 2007
2.7 million
370,000
3.07 million
AIDS deaths worldwide in 2007
2 million
270,000

7. Global trends of HIV infection

8. UK epidemiology 2007
individuals HIV positive
Prevalence UK: 0.12 %
Proportion of risk groups infected
43% MSM
31% Heterosexual women
21% Heterosexual men
4% IVDU
61% of all cases in African born individuals unaware of diagnosis
29% of HIV cases undiagnosed (21600)

9. Estimated late diagnosis1 of HIV infection and AIDS at HIV diagnosis by prevention group, UK: 2006
1CD4 cell count less than 200 cells/mm3 within 30 days of diagnosis among adults (aged >14 years)
HIV/AIDS diagnoses and death reports, and surveillance of CD4 cell counts in
HIV-infected persons

10. III. Clinical features of HIV infection

11. III. Clinical Features
1. Seroconversion illness - seen in 10% of individuals a few weeks after exposure and coincides with seroconversion. Presents with an infectious mononucleosis like illness.
2. Incubation period - this is the period when the patient is completely asymptomatic and may vary from a few months to a more than 10 years. The median incubation period is 8-10 years.
3. AIDS-related complex or persistent generalized lymphadenopathy.
4. Full-blown AIDS.

12. IV. Opportunistic Infections
Protozoal pneumocystis carinii (now thought to be a fungi),
toxoplasmosis, crytosporidosis
Fungal candidiasis, crytococcosis
histoplasmosis, coccidiodomycosis
Bacterial Mycobacterium avium complex, MTB
atypical mycobacterial disease
salmonella septicaemia
multiple or recurrent pyogenic bacterial infection
Viral CMV, HSV, VZV, JCV

13. Opportunistic Tumours
The most frequent opportunistic tumour, Kaposi's sarcoma, is observed in 20% of patients with AIDS.
KS is observed mostly in homosexuals and its relative incidence is declining. It is now associated with a human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8).
Malignant lymphomas are also frequently seen in AIDS patients.

14. Kaposi’s Sarcoma

15. Oral hairy leukoplakia

16. Oral hairy leukoplakia

17. Other Manifestations
It is now recognised that HIV-infected patients may develop a number of manifestations that are not explained by opportunistic infections or tumours.
The most frequent neurological disorder is AIDS encephalopathy which is seen in two thirds of cases.
Other manifestations include characteristic skin eruptions and persistent diarrhoea.

18. IV. Diagnosis
1. Clinical diagnosis because of suspicious features, high risk group or reported symptoms
2. Laboratory diagnosis

19. Laboratory Diagnosis Antibody tests only: window period up to 3 months
Combination ag/ab tests: p24/antibody tests positive after 4 weeks
In special circumstances pro viral DNA

20. VI. Treatment

21. HIV life cycle

22. VI. Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART)
1. Nucleoside RTIs
Ziduvudine, Lamivudine, Stavudine, Didanosine, Abacavir, Emtricitabine,
2. Nucleotide RTIs
Tenofovir,
3. NNRTIs
(Efavirenz, Nevirapine, Etravirine)
4. Protease inhibitors
Amprenavir, Atazanavir, Fosamprenavir, Indinavir, Lopinavir, Nelfinavir, Ritonavir, Saquinavir), Tipranavir
5. Fusion inhibitors
Enfurvirtide (T 20), sc injections
6. CCR5 Inhibitors
Maraviroc
7. Integrase inhibitors
Raltegravir

23. V. Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART)
Fixed dose combinations:
Atripla
(FTC/tenefovir/Efavirenz)
Combivir
3TC/Zidovudine
Truvada
FCT/Tenofovir
Kaletra
Lopinavir/ritonavir
Kivexa
Abacavir/lamivudine
Trizivir
3TC/Zidovudine/Abacavir

24. HAART Advantages: Hugh impact on mortality and morbidity
Newer regimen fewer pill burden and less side effects
Decrease in HIV transmission (vertical and horizontal)

25. HAART Disadvantages: Drug side-effects
common (GI, rash, blood abnormalities)
lipodystropy
resistance
Immune resconstitution
Lactic acidosis
hypersensitivity
Cost
Availability
“Complacency”

26. Lipodystrophy

27. VI. Relevance for Seafarer’ occupational health physicians
Important facts:
HIV different disease in 2009

28. The HIV positive seafarer
Fit or not?

29. HIV positive seafarer
In all cases of confirmed HIV positive status the assessment and decision taking process should be informed by advice from the clinician responsible for the care of the individual. It is the clinician and not the Approved Doctor who is responsible for the determining the frequency of surveillance needed to guide clinical care, where it needs to take place and for treatment while the seafarer is at sea. However it is for the Approved Doctor to take the final decision and issue a fitness certificate in line with the guidance below.

30. The HIV positive seafarer
Routine pre employment HIV testing is not recommended.
Yet: HIV testing is recommended and should strongly be suggested, if an individual, unknown to be HIV positive, exhibits physical signs during the medical examination, that rise suspicion of advanced HIV disease (and as such would be at greater risk to his/her health if undiagnosed than the implications of a positive HIV diagnosis to his/her employment otherwise.

31. Criteria for fitness decision
CD4 count > 350 ?
Clinically well/ asymptomatic?
Any AIDS defining illnesses? If yes, which?
On HAART?
If yes, since when?
Any side effects
Compliance
resistance

32. Clinical stage 1 Acute retroviral infection Asymptomatic
Persistent generalized lymphadenopathy
Performance scale 1: asymptomatic, normal activity

33. Clinical stage 2 Clinical Stage 2 Weight loss, < 10% of body mass
Minor mucocutaneous manifestations
Herpes Zoster in the last 5 years
Recurrent upper respiratory tract infection
Performance scale 2: Symptomatic, normal activity

34. Clinical Stage 3 Weight loss, >10% of body mass
Unexplained chronic diarrhoea>1 month
Unexplained prolonged fever> 1 month
Oral candidiasis, Oral hairy leukoplakia
Pulmonary tuberculosis, Severe Bacterial infections
Performance scale 3: bed ridden < 50% of the day during the last month.

35. Clinical stage 4 AIDS complex
HIV wasting syndrome: weight loss >10% body mass, plus unexplained chronic diarrhoea (>1 month) or chronic weakness and unexplained fever(>1 month)
Performance Scale 4: bedridden for>50% day during the last month.

36. HIV seafarer and fitness categories
Category 1 Fitness:(no restrictions)
Stage 1
No complications
CD4 count above 350 and never been on treatment
Limit duration to time of next specialist appointment if start of HAART is anticipated.

37. HIV seafarer and fitness categories
Category 2 Fitness:(fit with restrictions)
Stage 2
CD4 count above 350 and seafarer on antiretroviral medication that needs regular monitoring;
Restriction s apply to
proof of regular treatment monitoring by specialist and
locality: near coastal: until well established on antiretroviral regimen when specialist screening interval is only every 3-6 months

38. HIV seafarer and fitness categories
Category 3 Fitness (temporarily unfit)
Stage 3 (if symptoms impact significantly on performance status; e.g. oral candidiasis should not lead to being temporarily unfit)
Initiation and change of antiretroviral therapy
AIDS diagnosis:
Most AIDS defining conditions that can be treated and in conjunction with antiretroviral therapy will significantly reduce the chance of relapse or further AIDS defining illnesses. The CD4 count should be as a minimum above 200 and the seafarer on antiretroviral medication.

39. HIV seafarer and fitness categories
Category 4: (permanently unfit):
No scope for improvement in condition (mainly limited to late diagnosis of HIV disease with CD4 counts often <=100, Lymphomas, Dementia, loss of vision with CMV retinitis etc).
Resistant to all antiretroviral regimens with likelihood of CD4 count falling

40. Finally HIV very different disease in 2009 from 1983!
Chronic treatable condition
Survival very different only if HIV status known!
Early diagnosis very important
High level of suspicion in certain groups and with certain clinical signs
Diagnosis prolongs life!!!

41. Thank you! Important Websites: www.bhiva.org.uk www.medfash.org.uk