scholarly journals Using an Established Outbreak Response Plan and Molecular Epidemiology Methods in an HIV Transmission Cluster Investigation, Tennessee, January–June 2017

2020 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey Sizemore ◽  
Mary-Margaret Fill ◽  
Samantha A. Mathieson ◽  
Jennifer Black ◽  
Meredith Brantley ◽  
...  

Introduction In April 2017, the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) was notified of an increase in the number of persons newly diagnosed with HIV in eastern Tennessee in the same month. Two were identified as persons with a history of injection drug use (IDU) and named each other as syringe-sharing partners, prompting an investigation into a possible HIV cluster among persons with a history of IDU. Materials and Methods TDH and public health staff members in eastern Tennessee collaborated to implement procedures outlined in TDH’s HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) Outbreak Response Plan, including conducting enhanced interviewing and using a preestablished database for data collection and management. To complement contact tracing and enhanced interviewing, TDH partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct molecular HIV analyses. Results By June 27, 2017, the investigation had identified 31 persons newly diagnosed with HIV infection; 8 (26%) self-reported IDU, 4 of whom were also men who have sex with men (MSM). Of the remaining 23 persons newly diagnosed with HIV infection, 10 were MSM who did not report IDU, 9 reported high-risk heterosexual contact, and 4 had other or unknown risk factors. Molecular analysis of the 14 HIV-1 polymerase genes (including 7 of the 8 persons self-reporting IDU) revealed 3 distinct molecular clusters, one of which included 3 persons self-reporting IDU. Practice Implications This investigation highlights the importance of implementing an established Outbreak Response Plan and using HIV molecular analyses in the event of a transmission cluster or outbreak investigations. Future HIV outbreak surveillance will include using Global Hepatitis Outbreak Surveillance Technology to identify HCV gene sequences as a potential harbinger for HIV transmission networks.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Wei Ang ◽  
Carmen Low ◽  
Chen Seong Wong ◽  
Irving Charles Boudville ◽  
Matthias Paul Han Sim Toh ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundEarly diagnosis is crucial in securing optimal outcomes in the HIV care cascade. Recent HIV infection (RHI) serves as an indicator of early detection in the course of HIV infection. Surveillance of RHI is important in uncovering at-risk groups in which HIV transmission is ongoing. The study objectives are to estimate the proportion of RHI among persons newly-diagnosed in 2013–2017, and to elucidate epidemiological factors associated with RHI in Singapore.MethodsAs part of the National HIV Molecular Surveillance Programme, residual plasma samples of treatment-naïve HIV-1 positive individuals were tested using the biotinylated peptide-capture enzyme immunoassay with a cutoff of normalized optical density ≤ 0.8 for evidence of RHI. A recent infection testing algorithm was applied for the classification of RHI. We identified risk factors associated with RHI using logistic regression analyses.ResultsA total of 701 newly-diagnosed HIV-infected persons were included in the study. The median age at HIV diagnosis was 38 years (interquartile range, 28–51). The majority were men (94.2%), and sexual route was the predominant mode of HIV transmission (98.3%). Overall, 133/701 (19.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 16.2–22.0%) were classified as RHI. The proportions of RHI in 2015 (31.1%) and 2017 (31.0%) were significantly higher than in 2014 (11.2%). A significantly higher proportion of men having sex with men (23.4, 95% CI 19.6–27.6%) had RHI compared with heterosexual men (11.1, 95% CI 7.6–15.9%). Independent factors associated with RHI were: age 15–24 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.18, 95% CI 1.69–10.31) compared with ≥55 years; HIV diagnosis in 2015 (aOR 2.36, 95% CI 1.25–4.46) and 2017 (aOR 2.52, 95% CI 1.32–4.80) compared with 2013–2014; detection via voluntary testing (aOR 1.91, 95% CI 1.07–3.43) compared with medical care; and self-reported history of HIV test(s) prior to diagnosis (aOR 1.72, 95% CI 1.06–2.81).ConclusionAlthough there appears to be an increasing trend towards early diagnosis, persons with RHI remain a minority in Singapore. The strong associations observed between modifiable behaviors (voluntary testing and HIV testing history) and RHI highlight the importance of increasing the accessibility to HIV testing for at-risk groups.


1994 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
H A Cossa ◽  
S Gloyd ◽  
R G Vaz ◽  
E Folgosa ◽  
E Simbine ◽  
...  

A cross-sectional study was conducted among displaced pregnant women in Mozambique to determine the prevalence and correlates of HIV infection and syphilis. Between September 1992 and February 1993, 1728 consecutive antenatal attendees of 14 rural clinics in Zambézia were interviewed, examined, and tested for HIV and syphilis antibodies. The seroprevalence of syphilis and HIV were 12.2% and 2.9%, respectively. Reported sexual abuse was frequent (8.4%) but sex for money was uncommon. A positive MHA-TP result was significantly associated with unmarried status, history of past STD, HIV infection, and current genital ulcers, vaginal discharge, or genital warts. Significant correlates of HIV seropositivity included anal intercourse, history of past STD, and syphilis. In summary, displaced pregnant women had a high prevalence of syphilis but a relatively low HIV seroprevalence suggesting recent introduction of HIV infection in this area or slow spread of the epidemic. A syphilils screening and treatment programme is warranted to prevent perinatal transmission and to reduce the incidence of chancres as a cofactor for HIV transmission.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan M Graham ◽  
Clara Agutu ◽  
Elise van der Elst ◽  
Amin S Hassan ◽  
Evanson Gichuru ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Detection and management of acute HIV infection (AHI) is a clinical and public health priority, and HIV infections diagnosed among young adults aged 18 to 39 years are usually recent. Young adults with recent HIV acquisition frequently seek care for symptoms and could potentially be diagnosed through the health care system. Early recognition of HIV infection provides considerable individual and public health benefits, including linkage to treatment as prevention, access to risk reduction counseling and treatment, and notification of partners in need of HIV testing. OBJECTIVE The Tambua Mapema Plus study aims to (1) test 1500 young adults (aged 18-39 years) identified by an AHI screening algorithm for acute and prevalent (ie, seropositive) HIV, linking all newly diagnosed HIV-infected patients to care and offering immediate treatment; (2) offer assisted HIV partner notification services to all patients with HIV, testing partners for acute and prevalent HIV infection and identifying local sexual networks; and (3) model the potential impact of these two interventions on the Kenyan HIV epidemic, estimating incremental costs per HIV infection averted, death averted, and disability-adjusted life year averted using data on study outcomes. METHODS A modified stepped-wedge design is evaluating the yield of this HIV testing intervention at 4 public and 2 private health facilities in coastal Kenya before and after intervention delivery. The intervention uses point-of-care HIV-1 RNA testing combined with standard rapid antibody tests to diagnose AHI and prevalent HIV among young adults presenting for care, employs HIV partner notification services to identify linked acute and prevalent infections, and follows all newly diagnosed patients and their partners for 12 months to ascertain clinical outcomes, including linkage to care, antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and virologic suppression in HIV-infected patients, and pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake in uninfected individuals in discordant partnerships. RESULTS Enrollment started in December 2017. As of April 2020, 1374 participants have been enrolled in the observation period and 1500 participants have been enrolled in the intervention period, with 13 new diagnoses (0.95%) in the observation period and 37 new diagnoses (2.47%), including 2 AHI diagnoses, in the intervention period. Analysis is ongoing and will include adjusted comparisons of the odds of the following outcomes in the observation and intervention periods: being tested for HIV infection, newly diagnosed with prevalent or acute HIV infection, linked to care, and starting ART by week 6 following HIV diagnosis. Participants newly diagnosed with acute or prevalent HIV infection in the intervention period are being followed for outcomes, including viral suppression by month 6 and month 12 following ART initiation and partner testing outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The Tambua Mapema Plus study will provide foundational data on the potential of this novel combination HIV prevention intervention to reduce ongoing HIV transmission in Kenya and other high-prevalence African settings. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03508908; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03508908 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/16198


10.2196/16198 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. e16198
Author(s):  
Susan M Graham ◽  
Clara Agutu ◽  
Elise van der Elst ◽  
Amin S Hassan ◽  
Evanson Gichuru ◽  
...  

Background Detection and management of acute HIV infection (AHI) is a clinical and public health priority, and HIV infections diagnosed among young adults aged 18 to 39 years are usually recent. Young adults with recent HIV acquisition frequently seek care for symptoms and could potentially be diagnosed through the health care system. Early recognition of HIV infection provides considerable individual and public health benefits, including linkage to treatment as prevention, access to risk reduction counseling and treatment, and notification of partners in need of HIV testing. Objective The Tambua Mapema Plus study aims to (1) test 1500 young adults (aged 18-39 years) identified by an AHI screening algorithm for acute and prevalent (ie, seropositive) HIV, linking all newly diagnosed HIV-infected patients to care and offering immediate treatment; (2) offer assisted HIV partner notification services to all patients with HIV, testing partners for acute and prevalent HIV infection and identifying local sexual networks; and (3) model the potential impact of these two interventions on the Kenyan HIV epidemic, estimating incremental costs per HIV infection averted, death averted, and disability-adjusted life year averted using data on study outcomes. Methods A modified stepped-wedge design is evaluating the yield of this HIV testing intervention at 4 public and 2 private health facilities in coastal Kenya before and after intervention delivery. The intervention uses point-of-care HIV-1 RNA testing combined with standard rapid antibody tests to diagnose AHI and prevalent HIV among young adults presenting for care, employs HIV partner notification services to identify linked acute and prevalent infections, and follows all newly diagnosed patients and their partners for 12 months to ascertain clinical outcomes, including linkage to care, antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and virologic suppression in HIV-infected patients, and pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake in uninfected individuals in discordant partnerships. Results Enrollment started in December 2017. As of April 2020, 1374 participants have been enrolled in the observation period and 1500 participants have been enrolled in the intervention period, with 13 new diagnoses (0.95%) in the observation period and 37 new diagnoses (2.47%), including 2 AHI diagnoses, in the intervention period. Analysis is ongoing and will include adjusted comparisons of the odds of the following outcomes in the observation and intervention periods: being tested for HIV infection, newly diagnosed with prevalent or acute HIV infection, linked to care, and starting ART by week 6 following HIV diagnosis. Participants newly diagnosed with acute or prevalent HIV infection in the intervention period are being followed for outcomes, including viral suppression by month 6 and month 12 following ART initiation and partner testing outcomes. Conclusions The Tambua Mapema Plus study will provide foundational data on the potential of this novel combination HIV prevention intervention to reduce ongoing HIV transmission in Kenya and other high-prevalence African settings. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03508908; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03508908 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/16198


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 693-701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dara Spatz Friedman ◽  
Patrick O’Byrne ◽  
Marie Roy

Routine HIV surveillance cannot distinguish between recent and older infections: HIV-positive individuals reported soon or long after infection are both considered new diagnoses from a surveillance perspective, notwithstanding the time since infection. This lack of specificity makes it difficult to understand the jurisdiction-specific trends in HIV epidemiology needed for prevention planning. Previous efforts have been made to discern such timing of infection, but these methodologies are not easily applied in a public health setting. We wished to develop a simple protocol, using routinely collected information, to classify newly diagnosed infections as recent or older, and to enumerate and characterize recent versus older infections. Applying our methodology to a review of HIV cases reported between January 2011 and December 2014, we classified 62% of cases; one-third of these were recent infections. Although men who have sex with men (MSM) and persons from HIV-endemic countries (HEC) disproportionally accounted for new HIV diagnoses, the dynamics of HIV transmission within these groups differed dramatically: MSM accounted for the majority of recent infections, whereas persons from HEC accounted for the majority of older infections. Among older infections, one-quarter were previously unaware of their infection. Categorizing cases in this manner yielded greater, jurisdiction-specific understanding of HIV, and guides subpopulation-specific interventions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (47) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oskar Ayerdi Aguirrebengoa ◽  
Mar Vera Garcia ◽  
Teresa Puerta López ◽  
Petunia Clavo Escribano ◽  
Juan Ballesteros Martín ◽  
...  

Introduction Knowing the factors associated with HIV transmission is necessary in order to design preventive programmes tailored to the epidemiological situation in each region and population. Aim Our objective was to study the sociodemographic, clinical and behavioural characteristics of men who have sex with men (MSM) who were newly diagnosed with HIV infection. Methods We carried out an observational, descriptive, study on all MSM newly diagnosed with HIV infection in one clinic for sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV clinic in Madrid between 2014 and 2019. Information on sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioural characteristics of participants per year of diagnosis was collected. Results We detected a total of 1,398 people with HIV infection, 253 of whom were recent seroconverters (rSCV) with a median duration of documented seroconversion of 6 months. From the total, 97.9% infections were sexually transmitted and 2.1% involved injected drugs, i.e. slam practices. The average age was 32.9 years (range: 15.6–74.9), 51.8% were Spanish and 40% Latin American. These diagnoses decreased in Spanish people and increased in Latin Americans during the study period. Of the rSCV, 73.9% had condomless sex under the influence of drugs and 28.9% participated in chemsex sessions. Apps were used by 92.6% rSCV for sexual encounters and 70.4% of them attributed HIV transmission to their use. Conclusions Combination of HIV prevention strategies, as pre-exposure prophylaxis, should be reinforced among young MSM, especially those born in Latin America, those who use drugs for sex, and those who use apps in search of sexual contacts.


Author(s):  
Jeffrey Edwards ◽  
Avery Hinds ◽  
Nyla Lyons ◽  
Jonathan Edwards ◽  
Shauntelle Quammie ◽  
...  

A chart review study of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevalence among persons living with HIV (PLHIV) was conducted among STI clinic attendees in Trinidad between January 2012 and December 2012. Data were abstracted from client records to obtain the clinical and the laboratory diagnoses of STIs. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted, and factors significantly associated with the presence of a STI were assessed using multiple logistic regression. During this period, 385 PLHIV were seen; 104 (27.0%) were newly HIV diagnosed and 281 (73.0%) had a known history of HIV infection; 135 (35.1%) were diagnosed with a STI. Patients with known HIV infection were more likely to be diagnosed with a STI than those who were newly diagnosed (odds ratios: 6.99; 95% confidence interval: 3.79-12.89). The STI prevalence was high among PLHIV in Trinidad, identifying them as a critical target group for public health interventions to prevent the spread of HIV and STIs.


Author(s):  
Ekaterina Vladimirovna Tupikova ◽  
Svetlana Nikolaevna Beniova ◽  
Pavel Fedorovich Kiku ◽  
Lidiya Fedorovna Sklyar ◽  
Elena Ivanovna Miroshnichenko ◽  
...  

The article presents an analysis of the socio-demographic characteristics of HIV infection in the Primorsky Territory. The data for analysis were taken from the reporting forms of statistical data (information on the results of blood tests for antibodies to HIV, information on the disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus) GBUZ «Regional Clinical Hospital No. 2» Center for the Prevention and Control of AIDS and Infectious Diseases for the period of 2018–2020. In recent years, the disease has been diagnosed in older age groups. In the general structure of newly diagnosed persons with HIV infection, there remain a consistently high proportion of adults who are the most able-bodied and sexually active. There is a stable increase in the proportion of morbidity and mortality among men in the general structure of patients diagnosed for the first time in the Primorsky Territory. In the total population of HIV-infected patients, the dominant route of HIV transmission is still parenteral (with intravenous drug use), although there is an annual stable decrease in its share in the total number of newly diagnosed patients. Mortality due to the parenteral (narcotic) route of HIV transmission among HIV-positive men is significantly higher in the general structure of HIV-infected. Among the population of Primorsky Krai, the largest number of HIV-infected people are unemployed patients. The proportion of women of reproductive age is increasing, but the detection rate of HIV infection among pregnant women is decreasing. HIV infection affects the most working-age population, affecting demographic indicators. Despite the efforts aimed at combating the epidemic, HIV infection still remains one of the main socially significant threats to the health of all mankind.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-11
Author(s):  
Bala Augustine Nalah ◽  
Azlinda Azman ◽  
Paramjit Singh Jamir Singh

Harmful cultural practices have psychosocial implications on stigmatization and vulnerability to HIV infection among HIV positive living in North Central Nigeria. To understand this, we conducted qualitative interviews with purposively selected 20 diagnosed HIV positive to explore how culture influences stigmatization and HIV transmission. Data was collected using audio-recorder, transcribed, and analyzed through thematic analysis using ATLAS.ti8 software to code and analyze interview transcripts. The coded data were presented using thematic network analysis to visualize the theme, sub-themes, and quotations in a model. The findings reveal that lack of education was a significant determinant for the continual practice of harmful cultural rites, thereby increasing the risk of HIV infection and stigmatization. Hence, six cultural facilitators have been identified to include female genital mutilation, lack of education, tribal marks and scarification, postpartum sexual abstinence during breastfeeding, sexual intercourse during menstruation, and gender inequality, polygamy, and inheritance law. We conclude that educational teachings and advocacy campaigns be organized in rural schools and public places on the implications of harmful cultural practice to health and psychological well-being. We recommend that the social workers and behavioral scientists should collaborate with other agencies to employ a behavioral-based intervention in eliminating cultural practices and HIV stigma.


2014 ◽  
pp. 140-152
Author(s):  
Manh Hoan Nguyen ◽  
Ngoc Thanh Cao

Background and Objective: HIV infection is also a cause of postpartum depression, however, in Vietnam, there has not yet the prevalence of postpartum depression in HIV infected women. The objective is to determine prevalence and related factors of postpartum depression in HIV infected women. Materials and Methods: From November 30th, 2012 to March 30th, 2014, a prospective cohort study is done at Dong Nai and Binh Duong province. The sample includes135 HIV infected women and 405 non infected women (ratio 1/3) who accepted to participate to the research. We used “Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) as a screening test when women hospitalized for delivery and 1 week, 6weeks postpartum. Mother who score EPDS ≥ 13 are likely to be suffering from depression. We exclude women who have EPDS ≥ 13 since just hospitalize. Data are collected by a structural questionaire. Results: At 6 weeks postpartum, prevalence of depression in HIV infected women is 61%, in the HIV non infected women is 8.7% (p < 0.001). There are statistical significant differences (p<0.05) between two groups for some factors: education, profession, income, past history of depression, child’s health, breast feeding. Logistical regression analysis determine these factors are related with depression: late diagnosis of HIV infection, child infected of HIV, feeling guilty of HIV infected and feeling guilty with their family. Multivariate regression analysis showed 4 factors are related with depression: HIV infection, living in the province, child’s health, past history of depression. Conclusion: Prevalence of postpartum depression in HIV infected women is 61.2%; risk of depression of postnatal HIV infected women is 6.4 times the risk of postnatal HIV non infected women, RR=6.4 (95% CI:4.3 – 9.4). Domestic women have lower risk than immigrant women from other province, RR=0.72 (95% CI:0.5 – 0.9). Past history of depression is a risk factor with RR=1.7 (95% CI:1.02 – 0.9. Women whose child is weak or die, RR=1.7(95% CI:0.9 – 3.1). Keywords: Postpartum depression, HIV-positive postpartum women


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