Current News about Sexually Transmitted Disease

12/15/2011 08:50 AM
 

We present the updated British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) guidelines for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEPSE) to HIV. This document includes a review of the current data to support the use of PEPSE, considers how to calculate the risks of infection after a potential exposure, and provides recommendations on when PEPSE would and would not be considered. We review which agents to use for PEPSE including the potential for drug-drug interactions and make recommendations for monitoring individuals receiving PEPSE. Other areas included are the possible impact on sexual behaviour, cost-effectiveness and issues relating to service provision. Throughout the document, consideration is given to the place of PEPSE within the broader context of HIV prevention strategies and sexual health.

This study examined whether social vulnerability is associated with HIV testing among South African men who have sex with men (MSM). A community-based survey was conducted with 300 MSM in Pretoria in 2008. The sample was stratified by age, race and residential status. Social vulnerability was assessed using measures of demographic characteristics, psychosocial determinants and indicators of sexual minority stress. Being black, living in a township and lacking HIV knowledge reduced MSM's likelihood of ever having tested for HIV. Among those who had tested, lower income and not self-identifying as gay reduced men's likelihood of having tested more than once. Lower income and internalized homophobia reduced men's likelihood of having tested recently. Overall, MSM in socially vulnerable positions were less likely to get tested for HIV. Efforts to mitigate the effects of social vulnerability on HIV testing practices are needed in order to encourage regular HIV testing among South African MSM.

In Australia, the non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis service in Victoria (VNPEPS) maintains a database of non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (NPEP) use throughout the state. Through the database the service can monitor and respond to patterns of NPEP presentation, re-presentation and follow-up as well as those who test positive for HIV. We describe a cohort of NPEP individuals from the commencement of the service to 31 December 2009. During this time, 1864 individuals presented for NPEP on 2396 occasions. The majority (85%) were men who have sex with men (MSM) presenting after receptive anal intercourse (56.1%). Repeat NPEP presentations were high (17.5%) and follow-up testing at week 12 post-NPEP was low (34%). Twenty-two patients (1.2%) tested positive for HIV at baseline presentation and six patients seroconverted to HIV during follow-up. The VNPEPS has initiated strategies to encourage behaviour change for those who re-present for NPEP, and to improve rates of week 12 follow-up.

The difficulty of diagnosing HIV in infants is a major obstacle to early antiretroviral therapy (ART) in resource-limited settings. As serological tests are unreliable during the first 18 months of life, and the cost and complexity of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays limit their access in resource-limited settings, p24 antigen detection has emerged as an alternative diagnostic tool. In this study, the performance of an ultrasensitive p24 antigen assay on dried blood spots was evaluated under field conditions in rural Tanzania. Specimens were stored and shipped at tropical room temperature, and analysed within six weeks. In total, 27 consecutive children aged <18 months and exposed to vertical HIV transmission were enrolled. Overall sensitivity and specificity was 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 47.8–100) and 95.5% (95% CI, 77.2–99.9), respectively. Our findings suggest that detection of p24 antigen on dried blood spots can be a reliable and feasible diagnostic tool for infant HIV infection in rural resource-limited settings.

Little is known about the HIV testing behaviours among Caribbean youth. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of and the factors associated with HIV testing in Caribbean youth. Data were used from population-based surveys in three Caribbean countries: Guyana, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression models were fitted to examine the associations between independent correlates and ever being tested of HIV. The proportion of youth reporting HIV testing ranged from 17% in Haiti to 48% in the Dominican Republic. Across all countries increased odds of ever being tested for HIV was associated with ever being married, having five or more lifetime partners, and knowing someone who was living with or had died from HIV. Male gender and rural residence were correlated with decreased odds of HIV testing. Low levels of HIV testing were observed among sexually experienced youth in three Caribbean countries. Men, younger and never married youth were less likely to be have been tested for HIV. Outreach and public health messages targeting these youth should be implemented. Programmes that assist youth in accurately assessing their risk behaviours are also required to improve HIV testing.

High HIV testing coverage of high-risk populations is required to reduce the number of HIV-infected individuals unaware of their status. The aim of this study was to determine HIV testing rates among men who have sex with men (MSM) attending a sexual health service, including the impact of the treating clinician on HIV testing rates. Factors associated with HIV testing of MSM attending the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre for the first time between 2003 and 2009 were determined, including testing rates for individual treating clinicians. Overall, 78% of 4425 men were tested for HIV. Clinician HIV testing rates were higher among nurses (median 89%; range 77–95%) than doctors (median 73%; range 45–88%) with significant differences between individual physicians (P < 0.001). Lower testing among doctors was independent of reported sexual risk and time since the last HIV test. Substantial differences in HIV testing rates between clinicians were evident with low testing by some. Increasing HIV testing rates among high-risk groups require engagement not only of individuals at risk but also awareness among health-care providers who perform HIV testing.

The aims of this study were to observe trends in testing for HIV between 2004 and 2007 in one London, UK, hospital and to observe the seroprevalence of HIV within subgroups. Tests were grouped according to source and reason for testing. A total of 58,720 tests were considered (HIV-1 seroprevalence 0.9%). The majority (75.4%) of tests were performed as part of routine and opt-out protocols including antenatal and genitourinary (GU) screening. Among people specifically seeking HIV testing, the HIV seroprevalence was 3.5%. Medical specialties performed fewer tests but a high HIV seroprevalence was observed, including infectious disease (seroprevalence 4.4%) and other medical specialties (seroprevalence 3.4%). A small number of specialties performed few HIV tests. HIV testing was cost-effective in virtually all settings. This study suggests that more HIV tests could be performed, for example, in acute medicine, and training might increase the number of tests offered in some settings. The most effective way of increasing testing appears to be opt-out testing.