Contagiousness in treated HIV-1 infection.

BACKGROUND: Effective antiretroviral treatment of HIV-1, defined as continuously undetectable virus in blood, has substantial effects on the infectiousness and spread of HIV. AIM: This paper outlines the assessment of the Swedish Reference Group for Antiviral Therapy (RAV) and Public Health Agency of Sweden regarding contagiousness of HIV-infected persons on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Results and Conclusion: The expert group concludes that there is no risk of transmission of HIV during vaginal or anal intercourse if the HIV-infected person fulfils the criteria for effective ART. Summary: The effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-1 infection has dramatically reduced the morbidity and mortality among people who live with HIV. ART also has a noticeable effect on the infectiousness and on the spread of the disease in society. Knowledge about this has grown gradually. For ART to be regarded effective, the level of the HIV RNA in the plasma should be repeatedly and continuously undetectable and the patient should be assessed as continually having high adherence to treatment. Based on available knowledge the Swedish Reference Group for Antiviral Therapy (RAV) and the Public Health Agency of Sweden make the following assessment: There is no risk of HIV transmission during vaginal or anal intercourse if the HIV positive person fulfils the criteria for effective treatment. This includes intercourse where a condom is not used. However, there are a number of other reasons for recommending the use of condoms, primarily to protect against the transmission of other STIs (sexually transmitted infections) and hepatitis, as well as unwanted pregnancy. The occurrence of other STIs does not affect the risk of HIV transmission in persons on effective ART. It is plausible that the risk for transmission of HIV infection between people who inject drugs and share injection equipment is reduced if the individual with HIV is on effective ART, but there are no studies that directly show this. The risk of transmission from mother to child during pregnancy, labour and delivery is very low if the mother's treatment is initiated well before delivery and if the treatment aim of undetectable virus levels is attained. This is dependent on healthcare services being aware of the mother's HIV infection at an early stage. In most contacts with health and medical care, including dental care, the risk of transmission is not significant if the patient is on effective treatment, but the risk may remain, although considerably reduced, in more advanced interventions such as surgery. When an incident with risk of transmission occurs, the patient must always inform those potentially exposed about his or her HIV infection.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Continuum of Care in 11 European Union Countries at the End of 2016 Overall and by Key Population: Have We Made Progress?

BACKGROUND: High uptake of antiretroviral treatment (ART) is essential to reduce human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission and related mortality; however, gaps in care exist. We aimed to construct the continuum of HIV care (CoC) in 2016 in 11 European Union (EU) countries, overall and by key population and sex. To estimate progress toward the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 target, we compared 2016 to 2013 estimates for the same countries, representing 73% of the population in the region. METHODS: A CoC with the following 4 stages was constructed: number of people living with HIV (PLHIV); proportion of PLHIV diagnosed; proportion of those diagnosed who ever initiated ART; and proportion of those ever treated who achieved viral suppression at their last visit. RESULTS: We estimated that 87% of PLHIV were diagnosed; 92% of those diagnosed had ever initiated ART; and 91% of those ever on ART, or 73% of all PLHIV, were virally suppressed. Corresponding figures for men having sex with men were: 86%, 93%, 93%, 74%; for people who inject drugs: 94%, 88%, 85%, 70%; and for heterosexuals: 86%, 92%, 91%, 72%. The proportion suppressed of all PLHIV ranged from 59% to 86% across countries. CONCLUSIONS: The EU is close to the 90-90-90 target and achieved the UNAIDS target of 73% of all PLHIV virally suppressed, significant progress since 2013 when 60% of all PLHIV were virally suppressed. Strengthening of testing programs and treatment support, along with prevention interventions, are needed to achieve HIV epidemic control.

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus Continuum of Care in European Union Countries in 2013: Data and Challenges.

BACKGROUND.: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has set a "90-90-90" target to curb the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic by 2020, but methods used to assess whether countries have reached this target are not standardized, hindering comparisons. METHODS.: Through a collaboration formed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) with European HIV cohorts and surveillance agencies, we constructed a standardized, 4-stage continuum of HIV care for 11 European Union countries for 2013. Stages were defined as (1) number of people living with HIV in the country by end of 2013; (2) proportion of stage 1 ever diagnosed; (3) proportion of stage 2 that ever initiated ART; and (4) proportion of stage 3 who became virally suppressed (≤200 copies/mL). Case surveillance data were used primarily to derive stages 1 (using back-calculation models) and 2, and cohort data for stages 3 and 4. RESULTS.: In 2013, 674500 people in the 11 countries were estimated to be living with HIV, ranging from 5500 to 153400 in each country. Overall HIV prevalence was 0.22% (range, 0.09%-0.36%). Overall proportions of each previous stage were 84% diagnosed, 84% on ART, and 85% virally suppressed (60% of people living with HIV). Two countries achieved ≥90% for all stages, and more than half had reached ≥90% for at least 1 stage. CONCLUSIONS.: European Union countries are nearing the 90-90-90 target. Reducing the proportion undiagnosed remains the greatest barrier to achieving this target, suggesting that further efforts are needed to improve HIV testing rates. Standardizing methods to derive comparable continuums of care remains a challenge.

Six-week follow-up after HIV-1 exposure: a position statement from the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the Swedish Reference Group for Antiviral Therapy.

In 2014 the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the Swedish Reference Group for Antiviral Therapy (RAV) conducted a review and analysis of the state of knowledge on the duration of follow-up after exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Up until then a follow-up of 12 weeks after exposure had been recommended, but improved tests and new information on early diagnosis motivated a re-evaluation of the national recommendations by experts representing infectious diseases and microbiology, county medical officers, the RAV, the Public Health Agency, and other national authorities. Based on the current state of knowledge the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the RAV recommend, starting in April 2015, a follow-up period of 6 weeks after possible HIV-1 exposure, if HIV testing is performed using laboratory-based combination tests detecting both HIV antibody and antigen. If point-of-care rapid HIV tests are used, a follow-up period of 8 weeks is recommended, because currently available rapid tests have insufficient sensitivity for detection of HIV-1 antigen. A follow-up period of 12 weeks is recommended after a possible exposure for HIV-2, since presently used assays do not include HIV-2 antigens and only limited information is available on the development of HIV antibodies during early HIV-2 infection. If pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis is administered, the follow-up period is recommended to begin after completion of prophylaxis. Even if infection cannot be reliably excluded before the end of the recommended follow-up period, HIV testing should be performed at first contact for persons who seek such testing.