Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
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HIV and AIDS fact sheet - Health conditions Directory.
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that can result in Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) if left untreated. People who are infected with HIV are said to be HIV positive, even if their infection has not resulted in AIDS.
Over time if left untreated (usually many years), HIV can affect a person's immune system, leaving the body less able to protect itself from disease. When the immune system has been badly damaged by HIV infection, people can get sick from related infections or cancers. At this stage of HIV infection, a person is said to have AIDS.
Public health management guidelines
- Read Queensland Health guidelines for public health units for HIV infection.
Notification
Pathology laboratories
- List of all Pathological, clinical and provisional diagnosis notifiable conditions
- List of Public Health Unit contacts
- Notifiable conditions report form for Queensland doctors/clinicians (PHA S70) or person in charge of a Hospital (PHA S71) (PDF, 77kB) - if faxing notification, follow up by phone.
Enhanced surveillance for public health units
- Notification of laboratory confirmed HIV form (PDF, 376kB) - used by public health units to collect and manage more detailed information for enhanced case surveillance.
Clinical guidelines
- Australian STI management guidelines for use in primary care - an online resource for primary care health professionals which provide concise information to support the prevention, testing, diagnosis, management and treatment of STIs.
- Management of people with HIV who place others at risk - this guideline provides direction on the management of the small sub-set of people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) who place others at risk of HIV.
- National Guidelines for the Management of Healthcare Workers Living with Blood Borne Viruses Who Perform Exposure Prone Procedures at Risk of Exposure to Blood Borne Viruses - this guideline provides the minimum recommended processes for the management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected healthcare workers (HCWs).
- Management of occupational exposure to blood and body fluids - this guideline provides the minimum recommended procedures for the immediate assessment, management and follow-up of individuals who have been exposed (or suspect they have been exposed) to blood borne viruses (BBV), and recommendations for initiation of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in occupational settings.
- Post-Exposure Prophylaxis after Non-Occupational and Occupational Exposure to HIV: Australian Guidelines - outline the management of individuals who have been exposed (or suspect they have been exposed) to HIV in non-occupational and occupational settings.
- PEP risk assessment algorithm for non-occupational exposure to HIV (PDF 350kB).
Health alert information
Resources for health professionals
- HIV contact tracing form
- HIV and AIDS - Queensland Health website for health professionals.
Related information
- Accidental needle stick injury in public places - Queensland Health fact sheet for the general public.
- Post-exposure prophylaxis - HIV - Queensland Health fact sheet for the general public.
Epidemiological data and reports
- View communicable diseases data for notifiable conditions in Queensland and blood borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections surveillance reports.
- The Kirby Institute usually reports annually on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia. The data, including full data tables and charts as well as additional information, can be found on the Kirby Institute's data site. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, data has been compiled into a national summary for 2009-2018.
Last updated: 5 June 2023
