Improving access to HIV care among people who inject drugs through tele-harm reduction: a qualitative analysis of perceived discrimination and stigma.

BACKGROUND: Tele-harm reduction (THR) is a telehealth-enhanced, peer-led, harm reduction intervention delivered within a trusted syringe services program (SSP) venue. The primary goal of THR is to facilitate linkage to care and rapid, enduring virologic suppression among people who inject drugs (PWID) with HIV. An SSP in Miami, Florida, developed THR to circumvent pervasive stigma within the traditional healthcare system. METHODS: During intervention development, we conducted in-depth interviews with PWID with HIV (n = 25) to identify barriers and facilitators to care via THR. We employed a general inductive approach to transcripts guided by iterative readings of the raw data to derive the concepts, themes, and interpretations of the THR intervention. RESULTS: Of the 25 PWID interviewed, 15 were in HIV care and adherent to medication; 4 were in HIV care but non-adherent; and 6 were not in care. Themes that emerged from the qualitative analysis included the trust and confidence PWID have with SSP clinicians as opposed to professionals within the traditional healthcare system. Several barriers to treatment were reported among PWID, including perceived and actual discrimination by friends and family, negative internalized behaviors, denial of HIV status, and fear of engaging in care. Facilitators to HIV care included empathy and respect by SSP staff, flexibility of telehealth location, and an overall destigmatizing approach. CONCLUSION: PWID identified barriers and facilitators to receipt of HIV care through the THR intervention. Interviews helped inform THR intervention development, centered on PWID in the destigmatizing environment of an SSP.

Availability of telehealth-based services at syringe services programs under the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

INTRODUCTION: The expanded capacity of syringe services programs (SSPs) in the USA to integrate telehealth services was largely related to flexibility of buprenorphine prescription in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. SSPs demonstrated the potential of using telehealth to reach participants with both medical and non-medical services. The present study examines the implementation of medical and non-medical telehealth-based health services in 2020 at SSPs in the USA and organizational characteristics associated with adopting specific telehealth services. METHODS: We administered a cross-sectional survey among all known SSPs operating in the USA as of 2021. The two primary study outcomes were (1) implementation of medical telehealth and (2) implementation of non-medical telehealth in 2020. Medical services included HIV counseling/care, hepatitis C virus (HCV) counseling/care, and buprenorphine. Non-medical services included wellbeing/check-ins, overdose prevention training, health navigation, harm reduction and psychological counseling. Bivariate and multivariable mixed effects logistic regression models were used to directly estimate the odds ratio associated with organizational characteristics on the implementation of telehealth-based health services. RESULTS: Thirty percent of programs (n = 290) reported implementing telehealth-based health services. In multivariable logistic regression models, community-based organization SSPs had higher odds of implementing medical (aOR = 4.69, 95% CI [1.96, 11.19]) and non-medical (aOR = 2.18, 95% CI [1.10, 4.31]) health services compared to public health department SSPs. SSPs that received governmental funding had higher odds of implementing medical services via telehealth (aOR = 2.45, 95% CI [1.35, 4.47]) compared to programs without governmental funding. CONCLUSION: Community-based organization SSPs and those with government funding had the highest odds of telehealth implementation in response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Federal, state, and local governments must increase funding for low-barrier venues like SSPs to support telehealth implementation to serve the needs of people who use drugs.

"We want everything in a one-stop shop": acceptability and feasibility of PrEP and buprenorphine implementation with mobile syringe services for Black people who inject drugs.

INTRODUCTION: A recent surge in HIV outbreaks, driven by the opioid and stimulant use crises, has destabilized our progress toward targets set forth by Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America for the high-priority community of people who inject drugs (PWID), particularly Black PWID. METHODS: In order to ascertain the acceptability and feasibility of using a mobile syringe services program (SSP) for comprehensive HIV prevention via PrEP and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), our mixed methods approach included a quantitative assessment and semi-structured qualitative interviews with Black PWID (n = 30) in Miami-Dade County who were actively engaged in mobile syringe services. RESULTS: Participants felt that delivery of MOUD and PrEP at a mobile SSP would be both feasible and acceptable, helping to address transportation, cost, and stigma barriers common within traditional healthcare settings. Participants preferred staff who are compassionate and nonjudgmental and have lived experience. CONCLUSIONS: A mobile harm reduction setting could be an effective venue for delivering comprehensive HIV prevention services to Black PWID, a community that experiences significant barriers to care via marginalization and racism in a fragmented healthcare system.

Injection and Sexual Behavior Profiles among People Who Inject Drugs in Miami, Florida.

BACKGROUND: The dynamics of injection drug use and higher-risk sexual practices compound the risk of HIV and HCV acquisition. Published literature on people who inject drugs (PWID) has examined risk of infection assuming homogeneity of cohort behavior. Categorizing subgroups by injection and sexual risk can inform a more equitable approach to how syringe services programs (SSPs) adapt harm reduction resources and implementation of evidence-based interventions. We explored injection and sexual risk profiles among PWID to determine significant predictors of class membership. METHODS: Data were collected from 1,272 participants at an SSP in Miami-Dade County. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) examined how 10 injection/sexual behavior indicators cluster together to create profiles. Model fit statistics and multivariable multinomial latent class regression identified the optimal class structure and significant predictors of class membership. We assessed SSP visits, naloxone access, HIV/HCV testing and prevalence, and incidence of self-reported wounds. RESULTS: Three distinct profiles of injection/sexual risk were determined: Low Injection/High Sexual (LIHS) (9.4%); High Injection/Moderate Sexual (HIMS) (18.9%); and Low Injection/Low Sexual (LILS) (71.7%). Participants reporting gay/bisexual orientation and methamphetamine injection more likely belonged to the LIHS class. LIHS class members had higher prevalence of HIV, while those of HIMS reported increased hepatitis C prevalence. Compared to members of LILS, those of HIMS more likely experienced unstable housing, gay/bisexual orientation, heroin or speedball injection, and identifying as women. HIMS cohort members had more SSP visits, naloxone accessed, and higher wound incidence than those of LILS. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding PWID subgroups amplifies the importance of implementing evidencebased interventions such as PrEP for those engaging in highest risk behavior, with focused interventions of antiretroviral management and access to condoms for members of the LIHS class and HCV screening with wound care for those belonging to HIMS.

Project CHARIOT: study protocol for a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation study of comprehensive tele-harm reduction for engagement of people who inject drugs in HIV prevention services.

BACKGROUND: People who inject drugs (PWID) remain a high priority population under the federal Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative with 11% of new HIV infections attributable to injection drug use. There is a critical need for innovative, efficacious, scalable, and community-driven models of healthcare in non-stigmatizing settings for PWID. We seek to test a Comprehensive-TeleHarm Reduction (C-THR) intervention for HIV prevention services delivered via a syringe services program (SSP). METHODS: The CHARIOT trial is a hybrid type I effectiveness-implementation study using a parallel two-arm randomized controlled trial design. Participants (i.e., PWID; n = 350) will be recruited from a syringe services program (SSP) in Miami, Florida. Participants will be randomized to receive either C-THR or non-SSP clinic referral and patient navigation. The objectives are: (1) to determine if the C-THR intervention increases engagement in HIV prevention (i.e., HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis; PrEP or medications for opioid use disorder; MOUD) compared to non-SSP clinic referral and patient navigation, (2) to examine the long-term effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the C-THR intervention, and (3) to assess the barriers and facilitators to implementation and sustainment of the C-THR intervention. The co-primary outcomes are PrEP or MOUD engagement across follow-up at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. For PrEP, engagement is confirmed by tenofovir on dried blood spot or cabotegravir injection within the previous 8 weeks. For MOUD, engagement is defined as screening positive for norbuprenorphine or methadone on urine drug screen; or naltrexone or buprenorphine injection within the previous 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes include PrEP adherence, engagement in HCV treatment and sustained virologic response, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections. The short and long term cost-effectiveness analyses and mixed-methods implementation evaluation will provide compelling data on the sustainability and possible impact of C-THR on comprehensive HIV prevention delivered via SSPs. DISCUSSION: The CHARIOT trial will be the first to our knowledge to test the efficacy of an innovative, peer-led telehealth intervention with PWID at risk for HIV delivered via an SSP. This innovative healthcare model seeks to transform the way PWID access care by bypassing the traditional healthcare system, reducing multi-level barriers to care, and meeting PWID where they are. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05897099. Trial registry name: Comprehensive HIV and Harm Prevention Via Telehealth (CHARIOT). Registration date: 06/12/2023.

Adaptation of the Tele-Harm Reduction intervention to promote initiation and retention in buprenorphine treatment among people who inject drugs: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: At the start of the pandemic, relaxation of buprenorphine prescribing regulations created an opportunity to create new models of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) delivery and care. To expand and improve access to MOUD, we adapted and implemented the Tele-Harm Reduction (THR) intervention; a multicomponent, telehealth-based and peer-driven intervention to promote HIV viral suppression among people who inject drugs (PWID) accessing a syringe services program (SSP). This study examined buprenorphine initiation and retention among PWID with opioid use disorder who received the adapted THR intervention at the IDEA Miami SSP.Methods: A retrospective chart review of participants who received the THR intervention for MOUD was performed to examine the impact of telehealth on buprenorphine retention. Our primary outcome was three-month retention, defined as three consecutive months of buprenorphine dispensed from the pharmacy.Results: A total of 109 participants received the adapted THR intervention. Three-month retention rate on buprenorphine was 58.7%. Seeing a provider via telehealth at baseline or any follow up visit (aOR = 7.53, 95% CI: [2.36, 23.98]) and participants who had received an escalating dose of buprenorphine after baseline visit (aOR = 8.09, 95% CI: [1.83, 35.87]) had a higher adjusted odds of retention at three months. Participants who self-reported or tested positive for a stimulant (methamphetamine, amphetamine, or cocaine) at baseline had a lower adjusted odds of retention on buprenorphine at three months (aOR = 0.29, 95% CI: [0.09, 0.93]).Conclusions: Harm reduction settings can adapt dynamically to the needs of PWID in provision of critical lifesaving buprenorphine in a truly destigmatising approach. Our pilot suggests that an SSP may be an acceptable and feasible venue for delivery of THR to increase uptake of buprenorphine by PWID and promote retention in care.KEY MESSAGESThe Tele-Harm Reduction intervention can be adapted for initiating and retaining people who inject drugs with opioid use disorder on buprenorphine within a syringe services program settingUsing telehealth was associated with increased three-month buprenorphine retentionBaseline stimulant use was negatively associated with three-month buprenorphine retention.

Integrated Infectious Disease and Substance Use Disorder Care for the Treatment of Injection Drug Use-Associated Infections: A Prospective Cohort Study With Historical Control.

Background: To address the infectious disease (ID) and substance use disorder (SUD) syndemic, we developed an integrated ID/SUD clinical team rooted in harm reduction at a county hospital in Miami, Florida. The Severe Injection-Related Infection (SIRI) team treats people who inject drugs (PWID) and provides medical care, SUD treatment, and patient navigation during hospitalization and after hospital discharge. We assessed the impact of the SIRI team on ID and SUD treatment and healthcare utilization outcomes. Methods: We prospectively collected data on patients seen by the SIRI team. A diagnostic code algorithm confirmed by chart review was used to identify a historical control group of patients with SIRI hospitalizations in the year preceding implementation of the SIRI team. The primary outcome was death or readmission within 90 days post-hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes included initiation of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and antibiotic course completion. Results: There were 129 patients included in the study: 59 in the SIRI team intervention and 70 in the pre-SIRI team control group. SIRI team patients had a 45% risk reduction (aRR, 0.55 [95% confidence interval CI, .32-.95]; 24% vs 44%) of being readmitted in 90 days or dying compared to pre-SIRI historical controls. SIRI team patients were more likely to initiate MOUD in the hospital (93% vs 33%, P < .01), complete antibiotic treatment (90% vs 60%, P < .01), and less likely to have patient-directed discharge (17% vs 37%, P = .02). Conclusions: An integrated ID/SUD team was associated with improvements in healthcare utilization, MOUD initiation, and antibiotic completion for PWID with infections.

Implementation of an integrated infectious disease and substance use disorder team for injection drug use-associated infections: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Hospitalizations for severe injection drug use-related infections (SIRIs) are characterized by high costs, frequent patient-directed discharge, and high readmission rates. Beyond the health system impacts, these admissions can be traumatizing to people who inject drugs (PWID), who often receive inadequate treatment for their substance use disorders (SUD). The Jackson SIRI team was developed as an integrated infectious disease/SUD treatment intervention for patients hospitalized at a public safety-net hospital in Miami, Florida in 2020. We conducted a qualitative study to identify patient- and clinician-level perceived implementation barriers and facilitators to the SIRI team intervention. METHODS: Participants were patients with history of SIRIs (n = 7) and healthcare clinicians (n = 8) at one implementing hospital (Jackson Memorial Hospital). Semi-structured qualitative interviews were performed with a guide created using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Interviews were transcribed, double coded, and categorized by study team members using CFIR constructs. RESULTS: Implementation barriers to the SIRI team intervention identified by participants included: (1) complexity of the SIRI team intervention; (2) lack of resources for PWID experiencing homelessness, financial insecurity, and uninsured status; (3) clinician-level stigma and lack of knowledge around addiction and medications for opioid use disorder (OUD); and (4) concerns about underinvestment in the intervention. Implementation facilitators of the intervention included: (1) a non-judgmental, harm reduction-oriented approach; (2) the team's advocacy for PWID as a means of institutional culture change; (3) provision of close post-hospital follow-up that is often inaccessible for PWID; (4) strong communication with patients and their hospital physicians; and (5) addressing diverse needs such as housing, insurance, and psychological wellbeing. CONCLUSION: Integration of infectious disease and SUD treatment is a promising approach to managing patients with SIRIs. Implementation success depends on institutional buy-in, holistic care beyond the medical domain, and an ethos rooted in harm reduction across multilevel (inner and outer) implementation contexts.

Project T-SHARP: study protocol for a multi-site randomized controlled trial of tele-harm reduction for people with HIV who inject drugs.

BACKGROUND: The resurgence of HIV outbreaks and rising prevalence among people who inject drugs (PWID) remain exigent obstacles to Ending the HIV Epidemic in the USA. Adapting a low threshold, comprehensive treatment model for PWID with HIV can leverage syringe services programs (SSPs) to increase availability and accessibility of antiretrovirals (ART), medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and hepatitis C cure. We developed Tele-Harm Reduction, a telehealth-enhanced, harm reduction intervention delivered within an SSP venue. METHODS: The T-SHARP trial is an open-label, multi-site, randomized controlled superiority trial with two parallel treatment arms. Participants (n=240) recruited from SSPs in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and Tampa, Florida, who are PWID with uncontrolled HIV (i.e., HIV RNA>200) will be randomized to Tele-Harm Reduction or off-site linkage to HIV care. The primary objective is to compare the efficacy of Tele-Harm Reduction for initiation of ART at SSPs vs. off-site linkage to an HIV clinic with respect to viral suppression across follow-up (suppression at 3, 6, and 12 months post randomization). Participants with HIV RNA<200 copies/ml will be considered virally suppressed. The primary trial outcome is time-averaged HIV viral suppression (HIV RNA <200 copies/ml) over 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes include initiation of MOUD measured by urine drug screen and HCV cure, defined as achieving 12-week sustained virologic response (negative HCV RNA at 12 weeks post treatment completion). A cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed. DISCUSSION: The T-SHARP Trial will be the first to our knowledge to test the efficacy of an innovative telehealth intervention with PWID with uncontrolled HIV delivered via an SSP to support HIV viral suppression. Tele-Harm Reduction is further facilitated by a peer to support adherence and bridge the digital divide. This innovative, flipped healthcare model sets aside the traditional healthcare system, reduces multi-level barriers to care, and meets PWID where they are. The T-SHARP trial is a pragmatic clinical trial that seeks to transform the way that PWID access HIV care and improve HIV clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05208697. Trial registry name: Tele-Harm Reduction. Registration date: January 26, 2022.

Availability of medications for opioid use disorder in outpatient and inpatient pharmacies in South Florida: a secret shopper survey.

BACKGROUND: Despite the proven efficacy of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and recent reduction in barriers to prescribers, numerous obstacles exist for patients seeking MOUD. Prior studies have used telephone surveys to investigate pharmacy-related barriers to MOUD. We applied this methodology to evaluate inpatient and outpatient pharmacy barriers to MOUD in South Florida. METHODS: Randomly selected pharmacies in South Florida (Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties) were called using a standardized script with a "secret shopper" approach until 200 successful surveys had been completed. The primary outcome was the availability of any buprenorphine products. Second, a list of all 48 acute care hospitals within the aforementioned counties was compiled, and hospitals were contacted by telephone using a second structured script. RESULTS: A total of 1374 outpatient pharmacies and 48 inpatient pharmacies were identified. 378 randomly selected outpatient pharmacies were contacted to accrue 200 successful calls (53% success rate). All 48 inpatient pharmacies were contacted to successfully complete 25 inpatient surveys (52%). Of the 200 outpatient pharmacies contacted, 38% had any buprenorphine available. There was a significant difference in buprenorphine availability by county, with Miami-Dade having the least availability and Palm Beach having the most availability (27% vs. 47%, respectively; p = 0.04). Of the 38% with buprenorphine available, 82% had a sufficient supply for a two-week prescription of buprenorphine 8 mg twice daily. Of the pharmacies that did not have buprenorphine, 55% would be willing to order with a median estimated time to receive an order of 2 days (IQR 1.25-3 days). Of the 25 surveyed inpatient pharmacies, 88% reported having buprenorphine on inpatient formulary, and 55% of hospitals had at least one restriction on ordering of buprenorphine beyond federal regulations. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study highlight significant pharmacy-related barriers to comprehensive OUD treatment across the healthcare system including both acute care hospital pharmacies and outpatient community pharmacies. Despite efforts to increase the number of MOUD providers, there still remain downstream obstacles to MOUD access.

Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome with Recurrent Paradoxical Cerebellar HIV-Associated Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), presenting as immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), is a known complication of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in people living with HIV (PLWH). Typically preceded by ART initiation, IRIS may appear simultaneously/unmasked (PML-s-IRIS) or as a delayed/worsening/paradoxical (PML-d-IRIS) presentation of known PML disease. Primary cerebellar tropism continues to be a rare presentation, and paradoxical cerebellar involvement of PML-IRIS syndrome can be a challenge for both diagnosis and management. Steroids have been suggested as a possible therapy in severe cases but the duration of steroid therapy remain elusive. Our case is that of a 34-year-old man with newly diagnosed HIV simultaneously found to have cerebellar PML. His PML lesions however worsened after initiation of ART (PML-d-IRIS) with evidence of increased intracranial pressure. Despite initial favorable response to a short duration of steroids, he had multiple recurrence of his PML lesions after steroids were discontinued. The presence of predominant cerebellar lesions and the question of how long steroids should be provided to prevent or minimize PML recurrence is the highlight of our case. This report emphasizes the need for more controlled studies to assist clinicians in the optimal diagnosis and management of PML-IRIS in PLWH.

Applying the Infectious Diseases Literature to People who Inject Drugs.

People who inject drugs (PWID) presenting with injection drug use-associated infections are an understudied population excluded from most prospective infectious disease (ID) clinical trials. Careful application of the existing ID literature to PWID must consider their unique medical, psychological, and social challenges. Identification and treatment of the underlying substance use disorder are key underpinnings to any successful ID intervention.

Case Report: Early Doxycycline Therapy for Potential Rickettsiosis in Critically Ill Patients in Flea-Borne Typhus-Endemic Areas.

Flea-borne typhus (FBT), although usually perceived as a self-resolving febrile illness, actually encompasses a wide spectrum of disease severity, including fulminant sepsis with multi-organ failure. In endemic Texas and California, the incidence of FBT has more than doubled over the last decade. Clinicians remain unfamiliar with severe septic presentations of FBT when considering the etiologies of acute undifferentiated febrile syndromes. The diagnostic challenges of FBT include the nonspecific and variable nature of both history and physical examination and the lack of diagnostic testing that can provide clinically relevant information early in the course of infection. These barriers perpetuate misdiagnoses in critically ill patients and lead to delay in initiating appropriate antibiotics, which may contribute to preventable morbidity and mortality. This case series describes the clinical and diagnostic trajectories of three patients who developed FBT-associated multi-organ dysfunction. These patients achieved resolution of infection after receiving doxycycline in the context of a high clinical suspicion. Patients residing in FBT-endemic areas presenting with a febrile illness of unknown etiology with a suggestive constellation of hyponatremia, elevated transaminase levels, and thrombocytopenia should be suspected of having FBT. Clinicians should proceed to serologic testing with early doxycycline therapy for potential rickettsiosis. Familiarizing clinicians with the presentation of rickettsiosis-associated septic syndromes and its early and appropriate antibiotic treatment can provide lifesaving care and reduce health-care costs through prevention of the morbidity associated with FBT.