Safe sex practices include avoiding the exchange of body fluids. The most essential component of counseling related to the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and human immunodeficiency virus is discussion of condom use. Nurses can help motivate clients to use condoms by initiating a discussion about which of the following?

Choice A reason: Herpes simplex virus is incorrect because it is not the infection described in the question. It is transmitted through direct contact with the skin or mucous membranes of someone who is infected, usually through oral or genital sex. Symptoms include painful blisters and sores in the mouth or genitals. It does not cause life-threatening infections, but it can increase the risk of other sexually transmitted infections.

Choice B reason: Human papillomavirus is incorrect because it is not the infection described in the question. It is transmitted through direct contact with the skin or mucous membranes of someone who is infected, usually through genital sex. Symptoms include genital warts and cervical cancer. It does not cause life-threatening infections, but it can increase the risk of other cancers.

Choice C reason: Human immunodeficiency virus is correct because it is the infection described in the question. It is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or body fluid of someone who is infected, usually through unprotected sex, sharing needles, or passed from a mother to a baby at birth. Symptoms may take 10 years or more to show. Once they appear, the person is susceptible to life-threatening infections, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, or cancer. This condition is also known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Choice D reason: Cytomegalovirus is incorrect because it is not the infection described in the question. It is transmitted through direct contact with the saliva, urine, or breast milk of someone who is infected, usually through kissing, sexual contact, or breastfeeding. Symptoms are usually mild or absent in healthy people, but they can be serious in people with weakened immune systems or unborn babies. It does not cause life-threatening infections, but it can cause birth defects, hearing loss, or vision problems.

Choice A reason: CD4 counts are not used to detect HIV, but to monitor the progression of the infection and the immune system status. CD4 cells are a type of white blood cell that HIV targets and destroys. A normal CD4 count ranges from 500 to 1,500 cells per microliter of blood. A low CD4 count indicates a high risk of opportunistic infections and AIDS.

Choice B reason: Virus is a vague term that does not specify what kind of virus is being detected. HIV is a type of virus that belongs to the retrovirus family. It is difficult to detect the virus itself, as it hides inside the host cells and has a low concentration in the blood. Therefore, most laboratory tests focus on the antibodies that the body produces in response to the virus.

Choice C reason: HIV antibodies are the most common way to detect HIV, as they are produced by the immune system to fight the virus. Antibodies are proteins that bind to specific antigens (foreign substances) and mark them for destruction. HIV antibodies can be detected by a blood test, a saliva test, or a rapid test. However, antibodies may take several weeks to develop after exposure, so a negative test does not rule out the possibility of infection.

Choice D reason: CD8 counts are not used to detect HIV, but to monitor the immune system response and the viral load. CD8 cells are a type of white blood cell that kill infected cells and secrete antiviral substances. A high CD8 count indicates a strong immune response and a low viral load. A low CD8 count indicates a weak immune response and a high viral load.