Matts blood CD4 count has dropped below 350/cubic mm and his GP recommends he commence a suitable drug regime beginning with daily ‘stribild‘ combining three active therapeutics ‘elvitegravir’ an integrase inhibitor, tenofovir and emtricitabine both retroviral inhibitors as well as the boosting agent ‘cobicistat’ in a single tablet. He is also told that at some stage it may become necessary to supplement with protease inhibitors.
Explain the meaning of the preceding terms in bold and justify their clinical use in terms of your knowledge of the science of HIV/AIDS.
