Evaluación del impacto de la cuarentena por la pandemia de COVID-19 en la transmisión perinatal del VIH en Buenos Aires, Argentina / Assessment of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on perinatal HIV transmission in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Objetivos: Describir variables epidemiológicas clave durante el año 2020 (pandemia de COVID-19) con respecto a la prevención de la transmisión perinatal (TP) del VIH en Ciudad de Buenos Aires (CABA), comparando con períodos previos.Métodos: Análisis retrospectivo de los datos agregados de TP de las principales maternidades de CABA. El año pandémico (2020) se comparó con los años no pandémicos 2018 y 2019.Resultados: Se observó una reducción del total de nacimientos en 2020 en comparación con 2019 y 2018 (11.640 vs. 14.031 y 15,978, respectivamente). La proporción de nacidos vivos en madres VIH+ (MEV) fue 0,88% en 2020, sin diferencia con 2019 y 2018 (0,94% y 0,93%), p> 0,05 para todas las comparaciones. Entre las MEV, el diagnóstico intraparto fue del 2,9% para 2020, sin diferencias con 2019 (2,25%) y 2018 (9,3%), p> 0,05 (todas las comparaciones); el 8,8% comenzó el tratamiento antirretroviral con > 28 semanas de edad gestacional en 2020 frente al 16% y el 18,05% en 2018 y 2019 (p> 0,05, todas las comparaciones). La prevalencia de la carga viral indetectable en el momento del parto fue del 67% en 2020 frente al 64% en 2018 y del 65,4% en 2019 (p> 0,05, todas las comparaciones). La transmisión perinatal fue 0% en 2020 vs. 1,33% en 2018 y 2,25% 2019 (p> 0,05, todas las comparaciones).Conclusiones: En la primera ola de la pandemia de COVID-19 no se observaron cambios en la proporción de MEV asistidas, diagnóstico intraparto de VIH, inicio tardío del TARV y TP en CABA

Background: To describe key epidemiological variables in 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic) regarding prevention of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) in Buenos Aires city (CABA) in comparison with previous periods. Methods: Retrospective analysis of aggregated MTCT data was gathered from six principal maternity hospitals in Buenos Aires city. Pandemic year (2020) was compared to non-pandemic years 2018-19 individually considering key epidemiological variables. Results: A reduction of total births was observed in 2020 compared to 2019 and 2018 (11640 vs. 14031 and 15978, respectively). Proportion of live births in HIV-infected women (HPW) was 0.88% in 2020 without difference with 2019 and 2018 (0.94% and 0.93%), p> 0.05 for all comparisons. Among HPW, intrapartum diagnosis was 2.9% for 2020, with no difference between 2019 (2.25%) and 2018 (9.3%), p>0.05 (all comparisons); 8.8% had antiretroviral therapy (ART) started > 28 weeks of gestational age in 2020 vs. 16% and 18.05% in 2018 and 2019 (p> 0.05, all comparisons). Prevalence of undetectable viral load at delivery was 67% in 2020 vs 64% in 2018 and 65.4% in 2019 (p> 0.05, all comparisons). Perinatal transmission was 0% in 2020 vs 1.33% in 2018 and 2.25% 2019 (p> 0.05, all comparisons) Conclusions: In first wave of COVID 19 pandemic no changes in the proportion of HPW assisted, HIV intrapartum diagnosis, late ART initiation and MTCT-rate was observed in CABA

Utility of Mobile Communication Devices as a Tool to Improve Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment in HIV-infected Children and Young Adults in Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Optimal adherence is critical to achieve the benefits of antiretroviral treatment (ART). The aim of the study is to evaluate the use of mobile devices as a strategy to improve adherence to ART, measured by viral load (VL) in HIV+ patients less than 25 years of age. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in a cohort of HIV+ patients less than 25 years of age. HIV+ patients, on ART, VL >1000 copies/mL, using mobile devices and suboptimal adherence were included. The intervention was based on a mobile generic contact twice a month using text message and Facebook during 32 weeks. Extended communications were generated by the patient. VL was performed before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were included. Three were excluded and 22 patients were enrolled. Mean age was 17.2 ± 6.1 years (range: 6-25); 15 (68%) were female; mean baseline VL was 25,100 copies/mL (range: 1020-500,000 copies/mL), mean log was 4.3 (range: 3-5.7 log). Each participant received a total of 16 contacts; 84% (296) were answered by the patient and 54% (189) of the contacts generated extended communications. After the strategy implementation, 20/22 VL results were available: 13/20 (65%) were undetectable, 14/20 (70%) had VL < 1000 copies/mL and 6/20 (30%) VLs had no changes. CONCLUSIONS: The use of mobile devices and social networks is a valid tool to improve ART adherence in HIV+ pediatric and young adults, evaluated through VL. The strategy is feasible. The reminder messages trigger additional communications between patients and health provider and better engagement with HIV care. Longer follow-up time is needed.

Immunity After Childhood Vaccinations in Perinatally HIV-exposed Children With and Without HIV Infection in Latin America.

BACKGROUND: Perinatally HIV-infected (PHIV) children are at risk for under-vaccination and poor vaccine response at 4 years of age. Childhood vaccine coverage and immune response were compared between PHIV and HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) children in Latin America and the Caribbean. METHODS: PHIV and HEU children were enrolled prospectively at 15 sites from 2002 to 2009. Full vaccination by age 4 years was defined as: 3 hepatitis B virus vaccine doses; 4 tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine doses; 3 doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine by age 12 months or ≥1 dose given after age 12 months; one measles-containing vaccine dose; one rubella-containing vaccine dose. Immunity was defined by serum antibody titer. Fisher exact test (for categorical measures) and t test (for continuous measures) were used for comparisons. RESULTS: Among 519 children seen at age 4 years, 191 had serum specimens available (137 PHIV, 54 HEU). Among those with specimens available, 29.3% initiated combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) <12 months of age, 30.9% initiated at ≥12 months of age, and 39.8% had not received cART by the time they were seen at 4 years of age. At 4 years of age, 59.9% were on PI-containing cART (cART/PI), and 20.4% were on no ART. PHIV children were less likely than HEU children to be fully vaccinated for tetanus (55.5% vs. 77.8%, P = 0.005) and measles and rubella (both 70.1% vs. 94.4%, P < 0.001). Among those fully vaccinated, immunity was significantly lower among PHIV than HEU for all vaccines examined: 20.9% versus 37.8% for hepatitis B virus (P = 0.04), 72.0% versus 90.5% for tetanus (P = 0.02), 51.4% versus 68.8% for H. influenzae type b (P = 0.05), 80.2% versus 100% for measles (P < 0.001) and 72.9% versus 98.0% for rubella (P < 0.001) vaccine, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with HEU, PHIV children were significantly less likely to be immune to vaccine-preventable diseases when fully vaccinated. Strategies to increase immunity against vaccine-preventable diseases among PHIV require further study.

Revelación del diagnóstico de virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana a niños y adolescentes afectados por él y a sus cuidadores / Disclosure of human immunodeficiency virus diagnosis in children and adolescents affected by it and their caregivers

En la actualidad, sabemos que los niños y púberes necesitan conocer sobre su salud o la de sus padres. No obstante, las familias afectadas por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana suelen demorar la revelación del diagnóstico por miedo al estigma y la discriminación o simplemente porque se preguntan cuándo y cómo comunicarlo. Presentamos la experiencia de aplicar un programa destinado a "revelar" el diagnóstico de virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana a niños, adolescentes y sus cuidadores. El objetivo fue describir y comprender el impacto del anuncio para colaborar en acciones que mejoraran la atención integral de las familias que vivían con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana.

Children and adolescents need to know about their health or that of their parents. However, families affected by human immunodeficiency virus often delay disclosure of diagnosis for fear of stigma or discrimination or simply because they wonder when and how to communicate it. We present the experience of implementing a program to "reveal" the human immunodeficiency virus diagnosis to children, adolescents and caregivers. The aim was to describe and understand the impact of disclosure and to collaborate on actions to improve comprehensive care for families living with human immunodeficiency virus.

[Disclosure of human immunodeficiency virus diagnosis in children and adolescents affected by it and their caregivers]. / Revelación del diagnóstico de virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana a niños y adolescentes afectados por él y a sus cuidadores.

Children and adolescents need to know about their health or that of their parents. However, families affected by human immunodeficiency virus often delay disclosure of diagnosis for fear of stigma or discrimination or simply because they wonder when and how to communicate it. We present the experience of implementing a program to "reveal" the human immunodeficiency virus diagnosis to children, adolescents and caregivers. The aim was to describe and understand the impact of disclosure and to collaborate on actions to improve comprehensive care for families living with human immunodeficiency virus.

En la actualidad, sabemos que los niños y púberes necesitan conocer sobre su salud o la de sus padres. No obstante, las familias afectadas por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana suelen demorar la revelación del diagnóstico por miedo al estigma y la discriminación o simplemente porque se preguntan cuándo y cómo comunicarlo. Presentamos la experiencia de aplicar un programa destinado a "revelar" el diagnóstico de virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana a niños, adolescentes y sus cuidadores. El objetivo fue describir y comprender el impacto del anuncio para colaborar en acciones que mejoraran la atención integral de las familias que vivían con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana.

Undervaccination of perinatally HIV-infected and HIV-exposed uninfected children in Latin America and the Caribbean.

BACKGROUND: Perinatally HIV-infected (PHIV) children may be at risk of undervaccination. Vaccination coverage rates among PHIV and HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) children in Latin America and the Caribbean were compared. METHODS: All PHIV and HEU children born from 2002 to 2007 who were enrolled in a multisite observational study conducted in Latin America and the Caribbean were included in this analysis. Children were classified as up to date if they had received the recommended number of doses of each vaccine at the appropriate intervals by 12 and 24 months of age. Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the data. Covariates potentially associated with a child's HIV status were considered in multivariable logistic regression modeling. RESULTS: Of 1156 eligible children, 768 (66.4%) were HEU and 388 (33.6%) were PHIV. HEU children were significantly (P < 0.01) more likely to be up to date by 12 and 24 months of age for all vaccines examined. Statistically significant differences persisted when the analyses were limited to children enrolled before 12 months of age. Controlling for birth weight, sex, primary caregiver education and any use of tobacco, alcohol or illegal drugs during pregnancy did not contribute significantly to the logistic regression models. CONCLUSIONS: PHIV children were significantly less likely than HEU children to be up to date for their childhood vaccinations at 12 and 24 months of age, even when limited to children enrolled before 12 months of age. Strategies to increase vaccination rates in PHIV are needed.