Primary resistance to integrase inhibitors in Shenzhen.

OBJECTIVES: In recent years, integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-containing regimens have been increasingly adopted in treatment for HIV/AIDS and promoted as non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis in China. This study aims to describe the prevalence of resistance to integrase and drug resistance mutations (DRMs) among ART-naive patients in Shenzhen, China. METHODS: Serum samples and demographic information were collected from newly reported ART-naive patients in Shenzhen in 2020. The study sequenced the coding sequence of the HIV-1 integrase gene and determined the DRMs.​. RESULTS: In this study, 1682 newly reported cases were included and 1071 of them were successfully sequenced finally. The prevalence of primary drug resistance was 1.77%, with 19 samples showing varying degrees of resistance to INSTIs. The study detected six major DRMs in 16 individuals and eight accessory DRMs in 24 individuals. The prevalence of transmitted drug resistance (TDR) mutations was 1.21%, with five transmitted mutations detected in 13 individuals. The prevalence of drug resistance to raltegravir and elvitegravir was statistically higher than to bictegravir, cabotegravir and dolutegravir. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of INSTI resistance in Shenzhen in 2020 was relatively high. ​Continued surveillance for resistance to INSTIs is recommended and treatment regimens should be adopted based on the pattern of resistance to INSTIs. ​Dolutegravir or bictegravir is first recommended when considering INSTIs as treatment regimens.

Use of HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Shenzhen, China: A Serial Cross-Sectional Study.

HIV postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) has been prescribed to non-occupational people in recent years, but the implementation of PEP in China is still unclear. This study sought to examine the PEP use rate and factors associated with PEP in Men who have sex with men (MSM). We recruited HIV-negative MSM through offline methods from 2018 to 2020 in Shenzhen, China. Overall, PEP use increased from 3.92% to 2018, 5.73% in 2019, and 10.29% in 2020. Among 2833 participants who reported their most recent questionnaire, factors associated with PEP use included residence in Shenzhen less than 1 year, sexual intercourse with women, preferred way of finding sexual partners in MSM venues, multiple sexual partners (≥ 2), condom use, lubricant use, viagra use, less use of rush popper, HIV-related services and interest in initiating Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The implementation of the PEP plan should focus on the groups that may be at risk of HIV infection and their continued risky behaviours. For the inappropriate use of PEP, PEP publicity should guide MSM to choose regular hospitals and strengthen HIV testing before and after PEP.

Use of gay app and the associated HIV/syphilis risk among non-commercial men who have sex with men in Shenzhen, China: a serial cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Geosocial networking application specific to men who have sex with men (MSM) (gay app) has revolutionised the social networking of MSM globally, much concern was raised over its linkage to HIV/syphilis risk. This study sought to examine the association between use of gay app and sexual behaviours and HIV/syphilis risk among Chinese MSM. METHODS: Eligible MSM were recruited through combined offline methods from 2015 to 2017 in Shenzhen, China, with data collected including demographics, sexual behaviours, app use, recreational drug use and HIV testing. All participants are required to sign a written informed consent and take a confidential HIV and syphilis testing. RESULTS: The prevalence of app use among non-commercial MSM (NcMSM) has rapidly increased from 12.5% in 2015 to 52.6% in 2017. The primary four apps used were Blued (97.2%), Aloha (18.4%), Jack'd (14.1) and Zank (14.1%). After controlling for confounders, HIV prevalence was still significantly lower among app users than non-app users (adjusted odds ratios [AOR]: 0.77, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.97), yet the lower prevalence of syphilis was not significant (AOR: 0.97, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.23). App-using NcMSM were more likely to be younger, unmarried, self-identified as homosexuality and having higher education level and income than non-app-using NcMSM. App-using NcMSM had higher rate of consistent condom use and HIV testing, higher level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS prevention and condom use; however, they were more likely to have multiple sexual partners, practice receptive role in anal sex and use recreational drug. CONCLUSIONS: App-using NcMSM are more likely to have sexual risk behaviours as well as risk-reduction behaviours such as consistent condom use and HIV testing. Scaled-up and innovative venue-based HIV interventions are warranted for these high-risk MSM frequent social venues with less condom use and fewer HIV tests. Meanwhile, gay app should alternatively serve as an intervention and education platform for the MSM hard-to-reach via venue-based approaches.

Estimating Changes in Population Size and Behavioral Characteristics in Men Who Have Sex With Men Between 2014 and 2019: Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk for HIV infection. Accurate estimation of the population size and monitoring the risk sexual behavioral change of MSM is of great importance to develop targeted HIV prevention and interventions. OBJECTIVE: The goal of the research was accurate estimation of the population size and monitoring the risk sexual behavioral change of MSM. METHODS: Street interception investigation methods were conducted among males aged 16 years and older in selected sites in Shenzhen in 2014 and 2019. A population survey was used to estimate the population size of MSM. Logistic regression analysis was applied to evaluate the difference in behavioral characteristics in MSM from 2014 to 2019. RESULTS: In this study, we surveyed 10,170 participants in 2014, of whom 448 (4.41%, 95% CI 4.01%-4.80%) participants were men who have ever had sex with another man (MSMe) and 229 (2.25%, 95% CI 1.96%-2.54%) were men who had sex with another man in the previous 6 months (MSMa). A total of 10,226 participants were surveyed in 2019, of which 500 (4.90%, 95% CI 4.47%-5.31%) and 208 (2.03%, 95% CI 1.76%-2.31%) participants were MSMe and MSMa, respectively. The results showed that the population size of MSM who are active (MSMa) in Shenzhen was 155,469 (2.29%, 95% CI 2.28%-2.30%) in 2014 and 167,337 (2.05%, 95% CI 2.04%-2.06%) in 2019. It was estimated that there were about 12,005,445 (2.04%, 95% CI 2.04%-2.04%) MSMa in China in 2019. Compared with 2014, the MSMa in 2019 were more likely to seek sex partners through mobile phone apps and less likely to have male and female sex partners in addition to having inconsistent condom use and more than 6 sex partners in the previous 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: In Shenzhen, the proportion of MSMa among the general male population was lower in 2019 than in 2014, and the prevalence of HIV risk behavior was reduced in 2019. Although the preferred platform to find male sex partners among MSM has changed, intervention with high-HIV risk MSM could still help to reduce HIV risk behaviors among the whole MSM group. Because MSM prefer to seek sex partners through mobile phone apps, further study is needed to strengthen internet interventions with high-HIV risk MSM to curb the spread of HIV.

Relationship between gay app use and HIV testing among men who have sex with men in Shenzhen, China: a serial cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between gay app use and HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM). DESIGN: Serial cross-sectional study. SETTING: A newly well-developed city in China. PARTICIPANTS: 4935 MSM were recruited through offline sampling methods from 2015 to 2017. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: The primary outcome is the difference in HIV testing between app and non-app users. RESULTS: 2872 (58.2%) and 2159 (43.7%) participated MSM had been tested for HIV within lifetime and the past year, respectively. Compared with non-app-using MSM, app-using MSM had a significantly higher prevalence of HIV testing within lifetime (adjusted OR (AOR): 1.48, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.72) and the past year (AOR: 1.36, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.57). App-using MSM were more likely to take an HIV test at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (AOR: 1.48, 95% CI 1.24 to 1.76) and community-based organisations (AOR: 1.71, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.03), but less often at gay venues (AOR: 0.49, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.63). Meanwhile, app-using MSM were more likely to take self-testing (AOR: 1.61, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.14). Predictors of HIV testing in the past year were: having an education level of college or higher (AOR: 1.29, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.65), being self-identified as a homosexual (AOR: 1.23, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.46), being recruited through clinic-based sampling (AOR: 1.30, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.60), using gay app (AOR: 1.49, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.83), engaging in group sex (AOR: 1.64, 95% CI 1.23 to 2.19), having received HIV-related service (AOR: 5.49, 95% CI 4.57 to 6.60), having a high level of HIV-related knowledge (AOR: 1.33, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.61) and high-risk perception (AOR: 2.95, 95% CI 1.40 to 6.23). CONCLUSIONS: Gay app use was significantly associated with increased HIV testing among MSM hard to reach by traditional outreach. Therefore, it is imperative to expand HIV testing among non-app-using MSM. Continued efforts, innovative strategies and increased resource are highly needed to realise the first '90' target.