title: HIV infection: epidemiology, pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention.
abstract: HIV prevalence is increasing worldwide because people on antiretroviral therapy are living longer, although new infections decreased from 3.3 million in 2002, to 2.3 million in 2012. Global AIDS-related deaths peaked at 2.3 million in 2005, and decreased to 1.6 million by 2012. An estimated 9.7 million people in low-income and middle-income countries had started antiretroviral therapy by 2012. New insights into the mechanisms of latent infection and the importance of reservoirs of infection might eventually lead to a cure. The role of immune activation in the pathogenesis of non-AIDS clinical events (major causes of morbidity and mortality in people on antiretroviral therapy) is receiving increased recognition. Breakthroughs in the prevention of HIV important to public health include male medical circumcision, antiretrovirals to prevent mother-to-child transmission, antiretroviral therapy in people with HIV to prevent transmission, and antiretrovirals for pre-exposure prophylaxis. Research into other prevention interventions, notably vaccines and vaginal microbicides, is in progress.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: gary.maartens@uct.ac.za.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maartens
authors.affiliation: Departments of Global Health, Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Celum
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Infectious Diseases Unit, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Sharon R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lewin
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents