HIV and syphilis prevalence among transgender women and men who have sex with men, Silom Community Clinic, Bangkok, Thailand, 2017-2019.

We assessed HIV and syphilis infection among MSM and TGW attending Silom Community Clinic from 2017 to 2019. Walk-in and referral clients completed a registration application including a question on gender identity. We compared the prevalence of HIV, syphilis, and HIV and syphilis coinfection among TGW and MSM. In a total of 1050 clients, 276 (26.3%) were TGW and 774 (74.7%) were MSM. Among TGW clients, HIV prevalence was 29.8%, syphilis prevalence was 38.4%, and coinfection prevalence was 18.5%. Comparing prevalence among TGW to MSM, the adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) for HIV was 1.8 (95% CI:1.4-2.3), for syphilis was 1.2 (95% CI:1.0-1.4), and for HIV and syphilis coinfection was 2.1 (95% CI:1.4-2.9). The prevalence of syphilis was higher than HIV among TGW, with a PR of 1.3 (95% CI:1.1-1.6), and among MSM, with a PR of 1.4 (95% CI:1.2-1.7). TGW age 15-21 years had an HIV prevalence of 16.9% and syphilis prevalence of 30.8%. After adjusting for age, referral, and sexual behaviors, TGW remain significantly associated with HIV and syphilis prevalence. There is a substantial burden of HIV and HIV/syphilis co-infection among TGW. HIV/STI prevention are needed for TGW, including linkage to HIV care.

Complete Genome Sequence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Multilocus Sequence Type ST7363 Isolated from Thailand.

A Neisseria gonorrhoeae multilocus sequence type (MLST) ST7363 strain was isolated from a patient at the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, in 2010 and completely sequenced. This strain is susceptible to ceftriaxone and cefixime. A complete circular chromosome and circular plasmids were assembled from combined Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) and Illumina sequencing.

Recent declines in HIV infections at Silom Community Clinic Bangkok, Thailand corresponding to HIV prevention scale up: An open cohort assessment 2005-2018.

OBJECTIVES: We assessed HIV-1 infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) attending Silom Community Clinic (SCC) in Bangkok, Thailand from 2005 to 2018. Since 2014, Thailand increased implementation of HIV prevention strategies including pre-exposure prophylaxis and Treatment as Prevention. METHODS: MSM attending SCC were tested for HIV using rapid tests. We assessed trends in HIV prevalence, incidence and compared incidence before and after 2014. RESULTS: From 2005 to 2018, 14,034 clients attended SCC for HIV testing. The HIV prevalence increased from 19.2% in 2005-2006 to 34-0% in 2010, remained stable until 2016 and decreased to 17.2% in 2018 (p<0.0001). The HIV incidence was 4.1 per 100 person-years (PY), with an inverted U-shape trend and a peak in 2009 (p<0.0001). Incidence among young MSM aged 13-21 years remained high at 10.0 per 100 PY. Among those aged 22-29 years, lower incidence was found from Q 3 2016, with a relative risk reduction of 46.2% (p<0.001); and a similar reduction among those aged ≥30 years from Q4 2014, corresponding to scale up of HIV prevention strategies. CONCLUSION: We found a decline in HIV infection among Thai MSM. However, incidence remained high among young MSM.

Clinical Characteristics of Patients Hospitalized with Coronavirus Disease, Thailand.

Among 11 patients in Thailand infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, we detected viral RNA in upper respiratory specimens a median of 14 days after illness onset and 9 days after fever resolution. We identified viral co-infections and an asymptomatic person with detectable virus RNA in serial tests. We describe implications for surveillance.

Veteran Status, Sociodemographic Characteristics, and Healthcare Factors Associated with Visiting a Mental Health Professional.

Using data from a nationally representative study of the community-dwelling U.S. population, we estimated the percentage of male veterans who visited a mental health professional in the past year, compared it to an estimate from non-veteran males, and examined factors associated with visiting a mental health professional. We found that 10.5% of male veterans visited a mental health professional in the past year, compared to only 5.6% of male non-veterans. In the regression models, veteran status, sociodemographic factors, and healthcare utilization were independently associated with visiting a mental health professional. These findings demonstrate the importance of using nationally representative data to assess the mental healthcare needs of veterans.

Did CDC's 2006 revised HIV testing recommendations make a difference? Evaluation of HIV testing in the US household population, 2003-2010.

OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in the prevalence of HIV testing among adults following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2006 revised HIV testing recommendations. DESIGN: The 2003-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of the noninstitutionalized US population. METHODS: Weighted estimates and multivariable modeling to assess the prevalence of lifetime HIV testing, outside of blood donations, based on 13,975 respondents aged 18-59 years, comparing the 2003-2006 and 2007-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. RESULTS: Overall, HIV testing was 42.1% during 2003-2006 and 44.5% during 2007-2010 (P > 0.05). After adjusting for significant predictors in a multivariate model, HIV testing increased from 2003-2006 to 2007-2010 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.14, P < 0.05), mostly among males (aOR 1.33, P < 0.001) as compared with females (aOR 1.02, P > 0.05). HIV testing also increased significantly among non-Hispanic blacks, heterosexuals, those aged 50-59 years, those without a sexually transmitted infection history, those without health insurance, and those who did not access health care in the past year. HIV testing did not change significantly among high-risk groups, including men who have sex with men, those with a history of injection or illicit drug use, and those with a sexually transmitted infection history. CONCLUSIONS: In multivariate modeling, we found a modest but significant increase in HIV testing overall and among males after publication of the revised recommendations for HIV testing. The significant increase in non-high-risk groups suggests an expansion in generalized HIV testing, as recommended. However, even in 2007-2010, 56% of the US population has never been tested for HIV.

Evaluation of recurrent parasitemia after artemether-lumefantrine treatment for uncomplicated malaria in children in western Kenya.

From April 2005 to April 2006, a phase 2 malaria vaccine trial in Kenya enrolled 400 children aged 12-47 months. Each received mixed supervised and unsupervised artemether-lumefantrine for uncomplicated malaria, using a standard six-dose regimen, by weight. Children were followed for detection of parasitemia and clinical malaria. A median of two negative malaria blood films occurred during every recurrent parasitemia (RP) episode, suggesting reinfection over late recrudescence. Median time to RP after starting artemether-lumefantrine was 37 days (36-38). Of 2,020 evaluable artemether-lumefantrine treatments, there were no RPs in 99% by day 14, 71% by day 28, and 41% by day 42. By World Health Organization standards, 71% of treatment courses had adequate responses. Although recrudescence in some cannot be ruled out, our cohort had a shorter median time to RP compared with other artemether-lumefantrine treatment studies. This underscores patient counseling on completing all treatment doses for optimal protection from RP.