C P D  Q U E S T I O N S
Journal 41

Two CPD points are awarded for the correct completion and submission of the questions below.

CPD questionnaires must be completed online via www.cpdjournals.org.za.
After submission you can check the answers and print your certificate.

Questions may be answered up to 6 months after publication of each issue.
This programme is available free of charge to members of the HIV Clinicians Society and SAMA only.

Regarding the use of antiretroviral therapy to prevent the 
transmission of HIV in serodiscordant partnerships:
1.  True (A) or false (B): 
  Observational studies have suggested that the lower the average viral 

load in a community, the lower the incidence of new HIV infections. 
2. True (A) or false (B): 
  The HPTN 052 trial provides evidence that initiation of ART at a threshold 

of 350 - 550 cells/μl reduces sexual transmission of HIV to HIV-negative 
partners. 

3. True (A) or false (B):
  The HPTN 052 trial provides clear evidence that initiation of ART at a 

threshold of 350 - 550 cells/μl reduces mortality and AIDS-related 
complications in HIV-infected individuals.

4.  Evidence for the benefits of ART initiation above 500 cells/μl is mixed, and 
trials investigating these are ongoing within South Africa.

Regarding HIV prevention in the context of mental disorders:
5. True (A) or false (B):
  Individuals diagnosed with mental illness in South Africa have a level 

of knowledge of HIV prevention that is similar to that of the general 
population. 

6. True (A) or false (B):
  Standard HIV prevention messages and interventions may not be 

adequate for this group, as they have an increased risk of HIV infection 
compared with the general population.

Regarding the use of microscopy to diagnose a febrile HIV-
infected infant:
7. True (A) or false (B):
  High Candida fungal loads may lead to abnormal results of white cell 

count quantification in peripheral blood. 
8. True (A) or false (B):
  Peripheral blood smears may be useful in interpreting unusually rapid 

changes in full blood count parameters.

Regarding primary breast lymphoma in the context of HIV/AIDS:
9.  Primary extranodal lymphoma is the most common presentation of non-

Hodgkin’s lymphoma. 
10.  Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is the most common AIDS-associated 

malignancy. 

11.  Which of the following are common presenting symptoms of non-
Hodgkin’s lymphoma in HIV/AIDS: 

 A. Pain 
 B. Fever 
 C. Sweating and weight loss
 D. All of the above. 

Regarding invasive obstetric procedures in HIV-infected women:
12.  Most current guidelines recommend that pregnant women with higher 

CD4 cell counts (e.g. >350 cells/μl) do not require any form of prophylaxis 
or therapy to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV before 
undergoing an invasive obstetric procedure such as amniocentesis. 

13.  If a woman is established on effective antiretroviral therapy and has an 
undetectable viral load, invasive obstetric procedures do not appear to 
significantly increase the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. 

14.  In contexts where the invasive obstetric procedure is urgent and an HIV-
infected woman has not received any form of antiretrovirals, initiation of 
therapy immediately before or after the procedure may still provide some 
measure of protection against HIV transmission.

Regarding HIV prevention and treatment interventions for men 
who have sex with men (MSM):
15.  In terms of post-exposure prophylaxis, unprotected anal intercourse is a 

low-risk activity for HIV transmission, and it is appropriate to use 2-drug 
PEP. 

16.  There is evidence that pre-exposure prophylaxis using antiretroviral 
medications (PrEP) can help to protect MSM from sexually transmitted 
HIV infection, but adherence is an important consideration. 

17.  Anal intra-epithelial neoplasia (AIN) is recognised as an AIDS-related 
malignancy that is associated with the human papillomavirus. 

18.  Existing evidence suggests that the predominant subtype of HIV 
circulating in MSM in South Africa is subtype B (also the most common 
subtype among MSM in Europe and North America), while subtype C is 
more common in heterosexual populations in SA. 

19.  HIV prevention messages aimed solely at heterosexuals invariably include 
the risks associated with anal sex. 

20.  Recreational drugs can cause drug-drug reactions and side-effects in HIV-
positive individuals taking antiretroviral medication.