Pain and worry common problems for people with HIV receiving palliative care in Africa
People with HIV receiving palliative care have high levels of physical and psychological problems, according to the results of a study conducted in sub-Saharan Africa and published in Sexually Transmitted Infections. Several problems were worse for people who were receiving their care at home.
From today, HIV treatment is free for all who need it in England
The removal of charges for undocumented migrants and non-UK citizens accessing HIV treatment and care in England comes into effect today. From now on, HIV treatment will be provided free of charge to all who need it, regardless of citizenship or immigration status.
Large study suggests that more African people are acquiring HIV in the UK than previously thought
A new approach developed by scientists at the Health Protection Agency indicates that around 31% of African heterosexuals diagnosed with HIV in the UK may have acquired their infection in the UK, as opposed to the 10% indicated by current methods. Moreover, UK infections among African people appear to have been rising in recent years.
Late start for ART in pregnancy increases HIV transmission risk during breastfeeding period
A high viral load at the time of starting treatment during pregnancy and a shorter time on antiretroviral therapy (ART) before delivery continued to place mothers at risk of passing on HIV during the breastfeeding period for at least seven months after giving birth, researchers report in a sub-study of the Kisumu Breastfeeding Study in Kenya, published in the advance online edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
Consistent and correct condom use reduces risk of bacterial STIs by 60%
Consistent and correct condom use provides a high level of protection against bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs), US investigators report in Sexually Transmitted Infections. Individuals who always used condoms correctly were almost 60% less likely to be diagnosed with an infection. Consistent condom use on its own did not reduce the risk of bacterial STIs.
Global evidence of lower adherence to ARVs after giving birth
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence levels among pregnant women with HIV, in both high- and low-income countries, during pregnancy and especially after giving birth are significantly below what is recommended for viral suppression and prevention of drug resistance, according to a report published this month in the advance online edition of AIDS.
Grindr smartphone app could be a good way to recruit gay men to HIV prevention studies
Gay men can be effectively and efficiently recruited to HIV prevention studies using the Grindr smartphone app, investigators from Los Angeles report in AIDS and Behavior.
Regular HIV testing becoming the norm among gay men in Scotland
The number of gay men testing for HIV in Scotland increased significantly between 2000 and 2010, a study published in HIV Medicine shows.
Primary HIV infection frequently missed by GUM and HIV clinics
Primary HIV infection had been missed frequently in people newly diagnosed with HIV at a sample of UK sexual health clinics, investigators from the UK report in the International Journal of STD & AIDS.
Switching to tenofovir suppresses hepatitis B in HIV/HBV co-infected people
People with HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection, who substituted tenofovir (Viread) for zidovudine (Retrovir) or abacavir (Ziagen) in their antiretroviral regimen, saw a reduction in hepatitis B viral load despite HBV being resistant to lamivudine (Epivir), according to a poster presented at the 52nd Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) last week in San Francisco.
False-negative confirmatory HIV tests in children are frequent after starting ART
False-negative rapid antibody tests, in the absence of virologic testing at the age of 18 months, in children receiving antiretroviral treatment can result in interruption of treatment, and false-negative results occur with high frequency, according to the results of a study carried out in Lesotho, published in the advance online edition of AIDS.
ART for life cost effective for prevention of mother-to-child transmission in Uganda
Combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) provided to all pregnant women with HIV who have CD4 cell counts under 350 (World Health Organization Option B) in Uganda appears to be highly cost effective for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, even if continued over the mother’s lifetime, when compared to single-dose nevirapine, two-drug therapy or no treatment, Andreas Kuznik and colleagues report in a mathematical modelling study published in the August edition of the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.
HIV infection doesn't generally affect the response to syphilis treatment
Well-controlled HIV infection does not have a significant impact on the serological response to treatment for syphilis, Swiss investigators report in the online edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases. However, they found that syphilis stage was a significant factor in the response to treatment.
Long-acting integrase inhibitor S/GSK1265744 active against multiple HIV subtypes
The integrase inhibitor S/GSK1265744 exhibited potent and prolonged activity against a broad range of HIV subtypes, was active against clones with resistance to raltegravir (Isentress) and elvitegravir, and appears to have a high barrier to resistance, according to a presentation at the 52nd Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in San Francisco.
from Blenheim CDP
