Which drug class is primarily used to treat HIV/AIDS?

The primary drug class used to treat HIV/AIDS is antiretrovirals. These medications specifically target the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and work by inhibiting various stages of the virus's lifecycle, effectively controlling viral replication and helping to maintain the immune system's function. Antiretrovirals include different subclasses, such as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), protease inhibitors (PIs), integrase inhibitors, and entry inhibitors, all tailored to interrupt the HIV infection process.

In contrast, antifungals target fungal infections and are not effective against viral infections like HIV/AIDS. Aminoglycosides and macrolides are classes of antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections and have no role in managing viral diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Therefore, the choice of antiretrovirals as the answer reflects their specific action against the virus responsible for HIV/AIDS, emphasizing the importance of targeted medication in treating viral infections.