Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) information for health professionals

Human immunodeficiency virus is a notifiable condition. Notify SA Health of cases suspected of having or diagnosed with HIV by phone on 1300 232 272.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that weakens the body’s immune system. It reduces the number of CD4+T cells, a type of white blood cell which has an important role in immunity.

People with HIV who don’t get treatment can develop severe illness. When this happens, the immune system is weakened, making it difficult for the body to fight infections and certain cancers. This is also referred to as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

HIV infection occurs when certain body fluids (blood, semen, vaginal fluid, anal mucus and breast milk) containing the virus come into contact with another person’s tissues beneath the skin’s surface (for example, through needle puncture or broken skin), or mucous membranes (the thin moist lining of many parts of the body such as the nose, mouth, throat, genitals and anus).

In Australia, most HIV infections occur from unprotected sex (anal or vaginal intercourse without a condom) and/or the sharing of injecting equipment (needles and syringes).

Whilst a vaccine or cure is yet to be found, highly effective HIV antiretroviral therapies are available to all people living in Australia. Sustained, high uptake of these medications has resulted in the virtual elimination of AIDS in Australia.

HIV in Australia is considered a manageable condition.

If treatment is taken as prescribed, people living with HIV in Australia can achieve an undetectable viral load. Achieving an undetectable viral load not only prevents disease progression, allowing people living with HIV to live long and healthy lives, it also eliminates the risk of transmitting HIV to their sexual partners and to their baby during pregnancy.

Testing and diagnosis

All sexual health checks should include comprehensive testing for sexually transmissible infections (STI), including blood testing for syphilis and HIV.

The following guidelines and tools are available to assist clinicians with testing for and diagnosing HIV:

Prevention strategies

HIV infection can be prevented by:

  • Using condoms with water-based lubricant during vaginal, anal and oral sex
  • Regularly testing for HIV, other blood-borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections
  • Not sharing injecting equipment (e.g. needles, syringes, filters, spoons, swabs and tourniquets), and safely disposing of any found or used needles
  • Ensuring sterile equipment is always used for any skin penetrating procedures (e.g. acupuncture, tattooing and body piercing)
  • Using HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
  • Using standard precautions (this means treating all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious)
  • Ensuring any open sores, cuts or abrasions are covered with waterproof dressings (especially before handling any blood or other body fluids)
  • Achieving viral suppression with an undetectable viral load (U=U).

HIV PEP

HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is a 28-day course of antiretroviral medications that can prevent HIV infection following an exposure to HIV. It needs to be taken within 72 hours of an exposure. PEP can be prescribed by any general practitioner or nurse practitioner, however it is not available on the PBS. For more information:

HIV PrEP

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is the use of antiretroviral medications (co-formulated tenofovir disoproxil and emtricitabine) by a HIV-negative person to prevent HIV infection. It is highly effective at preventing HIV transmission when taken as prescribed. PrEP can be prescribed by any general practitioner or nurse practitioner. For more information:

U=U (undetectable equals untransmittable)

People living with HIV who are on effective antiretroviral treatment medications, and maintaining an undetectable viral load, cannot sexually transmit HIV. This is known as treatment as prevention or U=U (undetectable equals untransmittable). An undetectable viral load can also significantly reduce the risk of transmission of HIV via injecting and breastfeeding.

Other prevention strategies

Using condoms with water-based lubricants reduces the risk of pregnancy and HIV, as well as other sexually transmissible infections (STI). Having any STI increases the risk of getting an HIV infection. Condoms can be used for vaginal, anal, and oral sex.

People who inject drugs should always use new and sterile injecting equipment for each injection to prevent the transmission of HIV and other blood-borne viruses, such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Injecting equipment is available for free through Needle and syringe program sites.

Using standard precautions in health care settings when handling blood and body substances (always treat them as if they are infectious) will minimise and generally eliminate the risk of HIV and other blood-borne virus transmission.

Patient management and care

ASHM Health have a number of clinical guides and tools to assist health professionals in the management and care of their patients living with HIV, including:

More guides and tools can be found in the ASHM Resource Library.

HIV s100 prescribing

Medications for the treatment of HIV are regulated under section 100 (s100) of the National Health Act 1953.

To be able to prescribe these drugs you need to be a specialist medical or nurse practitioner who is affiliated with the hospital the patient is receiving treatment from or become an accredited community prescriber by undertaking specialised training.

ASHM are the accrediting HIV prescriber agency in Australia. For more information about becoming a s100 prescriber:

SA code for the case management of behaviours that present a risk for HIV transmission

The Chief Public Health Officer’s Code for the case management of behaviours that present a risk for HIV transmission (the Code) is a nationally guided approach for the management of people who have HIV and whose behaviours may pose a risk of transmission of the virus to other people.

The Code has a legal basis in the South Australian Public Health Act 2011 and the basic principle that the South Australian public have the right to protection against infection. The Code contributes to the response by government and the community sector to reduce the transmission of HIV. This is done by ensuring that risk behaviours are managed in a way that removes or reduces danger to the public as much as possible.

Education and training

ASHM Health are the leading agency in Australia providing education to health professionals regarding HIV, STI and other blood-borne viruses.

For information about the latest education and training courses available, please visit the ASHM Education Library.

Information for health professionals living with HIV

There are certain types of procedures, known as ‘exposure prone procedures’, where there is an increased risk of blood-borne virus (BBV) transmission from either the health professional or the patient.

To mitigate this risk, health professionals living with a BBV must not perform exposure prone procedures unless complying with the Guidelines.

Community support services

There are a range of support services available in the community for people living with HIV, these include:

  • Silverchain, HIV Enhanced Primary Care Coordination Program
    Free comprehensive nursing services, including case management to people living with HIV in South Australia.
  • SAMESH (South Australia Mobilisation + Empowerment for Sexual Health)
    Provides free education and support services to people living with or at risk of HIV, including peer navigation for those newly diagnosed with HIV.
  • Relationships Australia SA, MOSAIC Blood Borne Viruses Support Services
    Free and confidential support to anyone in South Australia who has been diagnosed with, or is at risk of, HIV and/or viral hepatitis.
  • Relationships Australia SA, PEACE Multicultural Services: HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STI Program
    Provides free support services, counselling, information sessions, and resources to all people from multicultural backgrounds, no matter what their visa status is, affected by or at risk of HIV, hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C, or by STI.
  • Positive Life SA
    Offers support, referrals and activities that add value to the health and wellbeing of all people living with HIV in South Australia.
  • Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, HIV services
    Offers a range of support services including case management, financial counselling, alcohol and drug support, and health and wellbeing programs.

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