"Combination Prevention" Gains Ground as High Priority
The idea of packaging proven prevention strategies took hold at this year’s International AIDS Conference.
Rapid HIV Testing in Emergency Departments — Beware of False Positives
HIV/AIDS Clinical Care Summary and Comment
Free
In a low-prevalence ED, rapid tests often ruled out HIV, but, when reactive, they often yielded false-positive results.
By Carlos del Rio, MD
September 8, 2008
Covering:
Walensky RP et al., Ann Intern Med 2008 Aug 5; 149:153
Rapid HIV Testing in the ED
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Not ready for prime time
Preventing Vaginal HIV Transmission Still Proves to Be Elusive
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Microbicidal vaginal gel did not diminish HIV infection rates in African and Indian women.
By Anna Wald, MD, MPH
August 27, 2008
Covering:
Van Damme L et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Jul 31; 359:463
Treatment of HIV Infection: Updated Guidelines from the IAS–USA
Infectious Diseases Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
Free
The panel recommends that HIV-infected patients with CD4 counts <350 cells/mm3 be treated and that therapy be considered in patients with higher CD4 counts.
A New Wrinkle in Syphilis Testing
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Reversal of the traditional syphilis screening test algorithm reveals cases that would have been missed before.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
August 27, 2008
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2008 Aug 15; 57:872
HIV/AIDS Diagnoses Continue to Rise Among MSM
The number of new diagnoses increased steadily among MSM from 2001 through 2006, with the greatest increase observed in those aged 13 to 24.
By Sonia Nagy Chimienti, MD
August 25, 2008
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2008 Jun 27; 57:681
HPV Vaccination: Is It Cost-Effective?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Immunizing preteens before sexual exposure makes economic sense; cost-effectiveness of vaccinating older teens and young-adult females is less clear.
By Ann J. Davis, MD
August 20, 2008
Covering:
Kim JJ and Goldie SJ., N Engl J Med 2008 Aug 21; 359:821
Haug CJ., N Engl J Med 2008 Aug 21; 359:861
New Estimate of HIV Incidence Is Disappointingly High
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Using new technology, the CDC revises previous estimates upward by 40%.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
August 19, 2008
Covering:
Hall HI et al., JAMA 2008 Aug 6; 300:520
New Guidelines Tweak Criteria for HIV Treatment
General Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
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Treatment at earlier stages of illness is endorsed, but the newest agents should be reserved for salvage therapy.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
August 14, 2008
Covering:
Hammer SM et al., JAMA 2008 Aug 6; 300:555
Increased Estimates of HIV Incidence in the U.S.
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
About 56,000 people acquired HIV infection in 2006; 45% were blacks, and 53% were men who have sex with men.
HIV Transmission Risk in Serodiscordant Couples
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
A modeling study suggests that HIV incidence may rise if infected patients on suppressive ART stop using condoms; however, this issue remains controversial.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
August 13, 2008
Covering:
Wilson DP et al., Lancet 2008 Jul 26; 372:314
Garnett GP and Gazzard B., Lancet 2008 Jul 26; 372:270
Life Expectancy on Antiretroviral Therapy: Dramatically Longer, but Still Not Normal
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Between 1996 and 2003, the average life expectancy rose by 13 years for an HIV-positive person who begins combination antiretroviral therapy at age 20.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
August 5, 2008
Covering:
The Antiretroviral Therapy Cohort Collaboration., Lancet 2008 Jul 26; 372:293
HIV Vaccine Trial Canceled
NIAID will not conduct the HIV vaccine study known as PAVE 100. Instead, officials are considering a smaller, more focused trial.
By Dan H. Barouch, MD, PhD
August 4, 2008
Covering:
Life Expectancy Continues to Improve for HIV-Infected Patients
Individuals starting ART during the current treatment era will probably live for decades.
By Paul E. Sax, MD
August 4, 2008
Covering:
The Antiretroviral Therapy Cohort Collaboration., Lancet 2008 Jul 26; 372:293
Cooper DA., Lancet 2008 Jul 26; 372:266
Do EDs Provide Appropriate Care for Victims of Sexual Assault?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Emergency departments fall short of providing comprehensive care.
The Disappointing Data Behind the Latest Failed Microbicide
HIV/AIDS Clinical Care Summary and Comment
Free
Intravaginal cellulose sulfate gel did nothing to prevent HIV acquisition.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
July 30, 2008
Covering:
Van Damme L et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Jul 31; 359:463
Beware Rapid HIV Testing in Late-Stage AIDS
Impaired antibody response in an AIDS patient compromised the accuracy of the test.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
July 28, 2008
Covering:
Brown P et al., Ann Intern Med 2008 Jul 1; 149:71
Raltegravir: Pivotal Studies Published
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
When combined with other active agents, raltegravir suppressed HIV replication in most patients with drug-resistant HIV infection.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
July 23, 2008
Covering:
Steigbigel RT et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Jul 24; 359:339
Cooper DA et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Jul 24; 359:355
Havlir DV., N Engl J Med 2008 Jul 24; 359:416
Limitations of Risk-Based HIV Testing
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Nearly 40% of men who have sex with men did not disclose this risk factor to their healthcare providers.
STIs in HIV-Infected DMPA Users
Women's Health Summary and Comment
STI acquisition rates did not differ in HIV-infected DMPA users and nonusers.
By Anna Wald, MD, MPH
July 17, 2008
Covering:
Overton ET et al., Contraception 2008 May 29
Venous Thromboembolism in HIV-Infected Patients
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Recent hospitalization is the strongest risk factor for VTE in HIV-infected patients.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
July 16, 2008
Covering:
Ahonkhai AA et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2008 Jul 1; 48:310
Anal Cancer: Rising Incidence in HIV-Infected Patients
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Anal cancer incidence in HIV-infected patients seems to have increased after the introduction of effective ART, perhaps because HIV-infected patients are living longer.
Kaposi Sarcoma in HIV-Negative MSM
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Researchers in France describe Kaposi sarcoma in HIV-negative men who have sex with men, perhaps linked to high HHV-8 prevalence in this group.
Syphilis and HIV Infection
In a study of patients with HIV and syphilis, greater immunosuppression at syphilis diagnosis was associated with the development of neurosyphilis and with serologic failure after adequate syphilis treatment. Conversely, potent ART reduced the likelihood of both outcomes.
By Carlos del Rio, MD , and Jodie Dionne-Odom, MD
July 14, 2008
Covering:
Ghanem KG et al., AIDS 2008 Jun 19; 22:1145
Ghanem KG et al., Clin Infect Dis 2008 Jul 15; 47:258
