Virological Outcomes and Risk Factors for Non-suppression for Routine and Repeat Viral Load Testing After Enhanced Adherence Counselling During Viral Load Testing Scale-up in Zimbabwe: Analytic Cross-sectional Study Using Laboratory Data From 2014 to 2018.

BackgroundSince the scale-up of routine viral load (VL) testing started in 2016, there is limited evidence on VL suppression rates under programmatic settings and groups at risk of non-suppression. We conducted a study to estimate VL non-suppression (> 1000 copies/ml) and its risk factors using "routine" and "repeat after enhanced adherence counselling" VL results.MethodsWe conducted an analytic cross-sectional study using secondary VL testing data collected between 2014 and 2018 from a centrally located laboratory. We analysed data from routine tests and repeat tests after an individual received enhanced adherence counselling. Our outcome was viral load non-suppression. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with having VL non-suppression for routine and repeat VL.ResultsWe analysed 103 609 VL test results (101 725 routine and 1884 repeat tests results) collected from the country's ten provinces. Of the 101 725 routine and 1884 repeat VL tests, 13.8% and 52.9% were non-suppressed, respectively. Only one in seven (1:7) of the non-suppressed routine VL tests had a repeat test after EAC. For routine VL tests; males (vs females, adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=1.19, [95% CI:1.14-1.24]) and adolescents (vs adults, aOR=3.11, [95%CI:2.9-3.31]) were more at risk of VL non-suppression. The patients who received care at the secondary level (vs primary, aOR=1.21, [95%CI:1.17-1.26]) and tertiary level (vs primary, aOR=1.63, [95%CI:1.44-1.85]) had a higher risk of VL non-suppression compared to the primary level. Those that started ART in 2014-2015 (vs <2010, aOR=0.83, [95%CI:0.79-0.88]) and from 2016 onwards (vs <2010, aOR=0.84, [95%CI:0.79-0.89]) had a lower risk of VL non-suppression. For repeat VL tests; young adults (vs adults, (aOR)=3.48, [95% CI 2.16 -5.83]), adolescents (vs adults, aOR=2.76, [95% CI:2.11-3.72]) and children (vs adults, aOR=1.51, [95%CI:1.03-2.22]) were at risk of VL non-suppression.ConclusionClose to 90% suppression in routine VL shows that Zimbabwe is on track to reach the third UNAIDS target. Strategies to improve the identification of clients with high routine VL results for repeating testing after EAC and ART adherence in subpopulations (men, adolescents and young adolescents) at risk of viral non-suppression should be prioritised.

Concurrent COVID-19 and Acute HIV: A Case Report and Diagnostic Review

A 26-year-old male presented to the emergency department feeling unwell in February of 2021 with symptoms including diaphoresis, loose stools, and loss of taste sensation. Workup not only confirmed a diagnosis of COVID-19 but also revealed discordant HIV test results, with a reactive fourth-generation antigen/antibody test but a negative HIV-1/2 differentiation immunoassay. Subsequent HIV viral load testing obtained two days later ultimately established a diagnosis of acute HIV (AHI). Screening for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is critical that providers (1) continue recommended screening for HIV as an essential service; (2) consider acute HIV in the differential when evaluating patients with acute viral syndromes; (3) recognize that AHI can occur concurrently with other infections, including COVID-19; and (4) understand the differential diagnosis for discordant HIV test results and know when HIV viral load testing is needed to resolve such discordant results.

HIV program outcomes for Jamaica before and after “Treat All”: A population-based study using the national treatment services database

Objective The study aims to assess changes in HIV treatment outcomes for Jamaica after the implementation of the WHO Treat All strategy in January 2017, as well as identify variables associated with clinical stage at diagnosis and viral load status, in order to understand implications for enhancing the HIV clinical cascade and boosting progress towards the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets. Method This is a population-based study using the National Treatment Service Information System. The sample consists of persons 15 years and older, placed on treatment before and after Treat All was implemented, across all 4 regional health authorities in Jamaica. Patients were assessed for two binary outcomes: 1. stage at HIV diagnosis (early/baseline CD4 cell count ≧350 cells/mm3, or late/ baseline CD4 <350 cells/mm3), 2. viral load status achieved after ART initiation (suppressed/<1000 copies/ml or non-suppressed/ ≥1000 copies/ml). Categorical variables: age/years, gender and health regions, were investigated using multivariable logistic regression. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals are reported. Results After Treat All, there was an increase in median baseline CD4 results as the proportion of late diagnoses decreased from 60% to 39%. There was a small increase in viral suppression from 76% to 80%, a decrease in baseline viral load testing from 61% to 46% and an increase in the uptake of first viral load testing after starting treatment from 13% to 19%. Males and persons 40+ years had higher odds of late diagnosis before and after Treat All. Conclusion Jamaica’s HIV program outcomes have improved after Treat All was implemented. ART initiation time significantly decreased. Early diagnosis, viral load testing uptake and viral suppression increased. However, there is a need to implement targeted testing for men and persons over 40 years to decrease the frequency of late diagnosis.