Increase in Cases of Perinatal HIV Transmission in Maryland in 2022.

The perinatal transmission of HIV is preventable through a regimen that includes testing of all pregnant individuals, antiretroviral treatment (ART) for the pregnant individual, prophylactic or preventative ART for the infant, and cesarean section delivery for mothers with HIV viremia at the time of delivery. Under this protocol, the United States has seen a significant decline in the perinatal transmission of HIV and achieved a perinatal HIV transmission rate of 0.9% in 2019. However, despite this progress nationally and after zero transmissions in 2021, Maryland recorded 6 cases of perinatal HIV diagnoses in 2022. Each of the 3 major referral centers for pediatric HIV patients in Maryland reported 2 new cases in 2022. A root cause analysis of the cases identified risk factors including delayed entry into perinatal and HIV care, premature birth, maternal adherence challenges in the setting of substance use and other adverse social determinants of health, and failure to diagnose maternal HIV infection in a timely way. All patients were successfully linked to care and initiated on ART. Multiple factors contributed to the 2022 increase in cases of perinatal HIV in Maryland. To achieve and then sustain the elimination of perinatal HIV transmission, the constancy of systems that eliminate barriers for all pregnant people to access testing, prevention, and treatment is critical.

Successful management of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in an adolescent with newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS and histoplasmosis.

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and life-threatening hyperinflammatory syndrome characterised by persistent fevers, cytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly and systemic inflammation. Secondary HLH can be triggered by various aetiologies including infections, malignancies and autoimmune conditions. We highlight the complexity of HLH diagnosis and management by describing a case of an adolescent Salvadoran immigrant with HLH, newly diagnosed HIV, Streptococcal bacteraemia and disseminated histoplasmosis. The patient presented with neurological and ocular findings along with persistent fevers and cytopenia. He was diagnosed with HLH and treated with anakinra in addition to receiving treatment for HIV, Streptococcal bacteraemia and histoplasmosis. The patient's HLH resolved without corticosteroids or chemotherapy, which are considered the mainstays for HLH treatment. This case underscores the need for the evaluation and management of multiple infections and individualised management in patients presenting with HLH to achieve favourable outcomes.

Projecting the Clinical and Economic Impacts of Changes to HIV Care Among Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States: Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many US youth with HIV (YHIV) used telehealth services; others experienced disruptions in clinic and antiretroviral therapy (ART) access. METHODS: Using the Cost-effectiveness of Preventing AIDS Complications (CEPAC)-Adolescent HIV microsimulation model, we evaluated 3 scenarios: 1) Clinic: in-person care; 2) Telehealth: virtual visits, without CD4 or viral load monitoring for 12 months, followed by return to usual care; and 3) Interruption: complete care interruption with no ART access or laboratory monitoring for 6 months (maximum clinic closure time), followed by return to usual care for 80%. We assigned higher 1-year retention (87% vs 80%) and lower cost/visit ($49 vs $56) for Telehealth vs Clinic. We modeled 2 YHIV cohorts with non-perinatal (YNPHIV) and perinatal (YPHIV) HIV, which differed by mean age (22 vs 16 years), sex at birth (85% vs 47% male), starting CD4 count (527/µL vs 635/µL), ART, mortality, and HIV-related costs. We projected life months (LMs) and costs/100 YHIV over 10 years. RESULTS: Over 10 years, LMs in Clinic and Telehealth would be similar (YNPHIV: 11 350 vs 11 360 LMs; YPHIV: 11 680 LMs for both strategies); costs would be $0.3M (YNPHIV) and $0.4M (YPHIV) more for Telehealth than Clinic. Interruption would be less effective (YNPHIV: 11 230 LMs; YPHIV: 11 620 LMs) and less costly (YNPHIV: $1.3M less; YPHIV: $0.2M less) than Clinic. Higher retention in Telehealth led to increased ART use and thus higher costs. CONCLUSIONS: Telehealth could be as effective as in-person care for some YHIV, at slightly increased cost. Short interruptions to ART and laboratory monitoring may have negative long-term clinical implications.

Patient Perspectives on Telehealth for HIV and Mental Health Care at a Pediatric and Adolescent HIV Clinic in Washington, DC.

Despite the scale-up of telehealth for children and youth living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic, their experience and interest in continued telehealth use in the future is unknown. We conducted a quality improvement project to identify areas for improvement of telehealth delivery to children and youth living with HIV and evaluate youth's experiences when using telehealth for mental health services. Children and youth living with HIV (up to 24 years) seen at a specialty HIV program during 2020-2021 were surveyed regarding technology access, telehealth knowledge, barriers to telehealth use and interest in future telehealth use for HIV care. Youth (12-<24 years) who used telehealth for mental health services were surveyed regarding their experiences. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Of the 170 patients in care, we surveyed 103 children and youth living with HIV (median age 17.6 years, 88.3% Black, 52.4% female, 77.7% perinatally infected), of whom 69.9% had prior telehealth use for their clinical visit. Most patients had access to a device with internet (99%) and were interested in future telehealth use for HIV care (87.4%). Reasons for not wanting to use telehealth included privacy concerns, distrust, discomfort with telehealth, preferring in-person visits, technology access issues and needing translation services. Most youth (81%) surveyed regarding telehealth for mental health services were satisfied and very likely to recommend it to others. Despite some reported barriers to telehealth, there is a high desirability for continued telehealth use among children and youth receiving HIV care.

Short Communication:Outcomes of Dual Versus Triple Antiretroviral Drug Regimens Among Virally Suppressed Adults in the DC Cohort.

This study explored virological outcomes of two-drug (2DRs) and three-drug (3DRs) antiretroviral regimens in adults with HIV in the DC Cohort. We analyzed 310 treatment-experienced adults with sustained HIV RNA ≤50 copies/mL at baseline, 53 of whom switched to 2DRs and 257 continued 3DRs. Adults on 2DRs and 3DRs had similar demographics (median age 53.3 years, 76.8% cisgender male, 76.1% Black). Adults on 2DRs had more participants with ≥2 comorbidities (62.3% vs. 42.8%, p = .019), had a longer time since HIV diagnosis (median years 20.4 vs. 13.2, p = .017), and received the regimen of interest for a shorter duration (median years 1.3 vs. 3.3, p < .001) compared with adults on 3DRs. Adults receiving 2DRs had a higher, although nonsignificant, risk for virological failure (two consecutive HIV RNA ≥50 copies/mL) at 24 months follow-up than adults on 3DRs (6.7% vs. 1.7%, respectively; p = .10). Future analysis of the effectiveness of 2DRs is needed.

COVID-19 Patient Vaccine Program Design and Implementation: An Academic Children's Hospital's Model, Approach, and Outcomes.

To slow the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and reduce the associated morbidity and mortality, the Children's National Hospital developed a multidisciplinary, collaborative vaccine program aimed at equitably and expeditiously vaccinating the pediatric population of the surrounding community. Interdepartmental collaboration, professional expertise, and community partnerships allowed for a dynamic and successful program design that began as large volume-centralized vaccine clinics and expanded to smaller volume ambulatory clinics. This strategy proved successful at meeting local vaccine demand; however, strategies to improve vaccine uptake in communities with high rates of hesitancy are still needed to maximize vaccine equity.

Sustained viral suppression with dolutegravir monotherapy in a treatment-experienced adult with perinatally acquired HIV.

We report a case of sustained viral suppression with dolutegravir monotherapy in a treatment-experienced adult with perinatally acquired HIV. The patient had recurrent pancreatitis with multiple antiretroviral drugs, leading to discontinuation of antiretroviral therapy for several years. She was ultimately initiated on dolutegravir monotherapy two times per day via a gastrostomy tube. She did not develop any integrase strand transfer inhibitor mutations during the first 2 years on dolutegravir monotherapy. The patient has successfully maintained prolonged viral suppression for over 3 years with intermittent blips secondary only to intermittent medical issues. This case is unique in describing a highly treatment-experienced young adult with perinatal HIV infection who has been virally suppressed on dolutegravir monotherapy for a prolonged follow-up of 156 weeks.

Awareness of and Attitudes Toward Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among Predominantly Heterosexual Black Adolescents and Young Adults and Their Guardians in an Urban Area With HIV Epidemic in the United States.

Among 185 Black, cis-gender, predominantly heterosexual adolescents and young adults (AYA) and 35 guardians surveyed in Washington, DC, the majority of AYA (96.8%) and guardians (94.3%) were unaware of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP); 62.2% of AYA were uncertain if PrEP was safe or effective against HIV. Of 41.6% of AYA willing to use PrEP, 24.9% reported concern about PrEP-related social stigma.

A neonate born with Mycobacterium cosmeticum bacteraemia.

Mycobacterium cosmeticum is a rapidly growing mycobacterium that was recently identified. However, its role in human infection has not been well described. We present a case of an extremely premature neonate born with bacteraemia due to M. cosmeticum that resolved without sequelae. The infection likely occurred during a prolonged intrauterine transfusion procedure.