Current guidelines recommend antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all individuals with HIV, regardless of CD4 count. Initiation is particularly urgent when the CD4 count is below 200 cells/mm³ or an AIDS-defining illness is present.
The nurse's primary role is to provide thorough education on strict adherence, explaining that missing doses can lead to drug resistance and treatment failure, and to immediately coordinate with the healthcare provider to start therapy without delay.
Do not wait for additional lab results like viral load or for the CD4 count to drop further before initiating ART. The presence of frequent opportunistic infections strengthens the indication for immediate intervention.
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