Use of Injection Drugs and Any Form of Methamphetamine in the Portland, OR Metro Area as a Driver of an HIV Time-Space Cluster: Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties, 2018-2020.

We describe the response to detection of a time-space cluster of new HIV infection in the Portland, OR metro area among people who inject drugs (PWID) and/or people who use any form of methamphetamine. This time-space cluster took place in a region with a syndemic of homelessness and drug use. The investigation included new HIV diagnoses in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties. Public health response included activating incident command, development and implementation of an enhanced interview tool, outreach testing, and stakeholder engagement. We identified 396 new cases of HIV infection, 116 (29%) of which met the cluster definition. Most cluster cases had no molecular relationships to previous cases. Persons responding to the enhanced interview tool reported behaviors associated with HIV acquisition. Field outreach testing did not identify any new HIV cases but did identify hepatitis C and syphilis infections. We show the importance of a robust public health response to a time-space cluster of new HIV infections in an urban area.

Extragenital Gonorrhea and Chlamydia Positivity and the Potential for Missed Extragenital Gonorrhea With Concurrent Urethral Chlamydia Among Men Who Have Sex With Men Attending Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinics-Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Network, 2015-2019.

BACKGROUND: Extragenital gonorrhea (GC) and chlamydia (CT) are usually asymptomatic and only detected through screening. Ceftriaxone plus azithromycin is the recommended GC treatment; monotherapy (azithromycin or doxycycline) is recommended for CT. In urethral CT-positive/urethral GC-negative persons who are not screened extragenitally, CT monotherapy can lead to GC undertreatment and may foster the development of gonococcal antimicrobial resistance. We assessed urethral and extragenital GC and CT positivity among men who have sex with men (MSM) attending sexually transmitted disease clinics. METHODS: We included visit data for MSM tested for GC and CT at 30 sexually transmitted disease clinics in 10 jurisdictions during January 1, 2015, and June 30, 2019. Using an inverse-variance random effects model to account for heterogeneity between jurisdictions, we calculated weighted test visit positivity estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for GC and CT at urethral and extragenital sites, and extragenital GC among urethral CT-positive/GC-negative test visits. RESULTS: Of 139,718 GC and CT test visits, we calculated overall positivity (GC, 16.7% [95% CI, 14.4-19.1]; CT, 13.3% [95% CI, 12.7-13.9]); urethral positivity (GC, 7.5% [95% CI, 5.7-9.3]; CT, 5.2% [95% CI, 4.6-5.8]); rectal positivity (GC, 11.8% [95% CI, 10.4-13.2]; CT, 12.6% [95% CI, 11.8-13.4]); and pharyngeal positivity (GC, 9.1% [95% CI, 7.9-10.3]; CT, 1.8% [95% CI, 1.6-2.0]). Of 4566 urethral CT-positive/GC-negative test visits with extragenital testing, extragenital GC positivity was 12.5% (95% CI, 10.9-14.1). CONCLUSIONS: Extragenital GC and CT were common among MSM. Without extragenital screening of MSM with urethral CT, extragenital GC would have been undetected and undertreated in approximately 13% of these men. Undertreatment could potentially select for antimicrobial resistance. These findings underscore the importance of extragenital screening in MSM.

Pharyngeal Gonococcal Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Network of Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinics; Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Network-January 2016 to June 2018.

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using sexually transmitted disease clinic data to determine test of cure rates among persons diagnosed with pharyngeal gonococcal infections who were treated with a nonceftriaxone, nonazithromycin therapy. Less than 10% returned for a test of cure, highlighting the need to understand factors that can lead to improved compliance.

"Little Tablets of Gold": An Examination of the Psychological and Social Dimensions of PrEP Among LGBTQ Communities.

There are significant psychological, social, and cultural dimensions to the HIV epidemic in the United States, especially among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities. Biomedical HIV treatment has been shown to impact these dimensions. However, there is little understanding of the real-world psychosocial and sociocultural effects of the latest biomedical HIV prevention strategy, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). This study explored the psychosocial and sociocultural dimensions of PrEP use among LGBTQ adults. We interviewed 23 LGBTQ adults who were current or former users of PrEP. Results included that PrEP users' experiences were shaped by multiple forms of stigma. Participants were highly motivated to challenge PrEP stigma and to support PrEP use among other community members. Lastly, participants described positive impacts on their individual well-being and their sexual partnerships. Findings suggest that PrEP has significant impacts beyond biomedical outcomes for both the individuals who use PrEP and their communities.

Access to HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in Practice Settings: a Qualitative Study of Sexual and Gender Minority Adults' Perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations remain at disproportionate risk of HIV infection. Despite the effectiveness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in preventing HIV, PrEP uptake has been slow. OBJECTIVE: To identify barriers and facilitators of PrEP access by examining SGM patients' experiences with accessing health care systems and engaging with providers about PrEP in a variety of practice settings. DESIGN: Semi-structured, individual, qualitative interviews. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-seven sexual and gender minority adults residing in Oregon. APPROACH: Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. KEY RESULTS: We identified three main themes. Participants described the centrality of patient-provider relationships to positive experiences around PrEP, the necessity of personally advocating to access PrEP, and the experience of system-level barriers to PrEP access. Participants also made several suggestions to improve PrEP access including improving provider engagement with SGM patients, encouraging providers to initiate conversations about PrEP, and increasing awareness of medication financial support. CONCLUSIONS: In order to reduce HIV disparities, improving PrEP access will require additional efforts by providers and resources across health care settings to reduce barriers. Interventions to improve provider education about PrEP and provider communication skills for discussing sexual health are needed. Additionally, there should be system-level improvements to increase coordination between patients, providers, pharmacies, and payers to facilitate PrEP access and uptake.

Early Syphilis Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in the US Pacific Northwest, 2008-2013: Clinical Management and Implications for Prevention.

Substantial increases in syphilis during 2008-2013 were reported in the US Pacific Northwest state of Oregon, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). The authors aimed to characterize the ongoing epidemic and identify possible gaps in clinical management of early syphilis (primary, secondary, and latent syphilis ≤1 year) among MSM in Multnomah County, Oregon to inform public health efforts. Administrative databases were used to examine trends in case characteristics during 2008-2013. Medical records were abstracted for cases occurring in 2013 to assess diagnosis, treatment, and screening practices. Early syphilis among MSM increased from 21 cases in 2008 to 229 in 2013. The majority of cases occurred in HIV-infected patients (range: 55.6%-69.2%) diagnosed with secondary syphilis (range: 36.2%-52.4%). In 2013, 119 (51.9%) cases were diagnosed in public sector medical settings and 110 (48.0%) in private sector settings. Over 80% of HIV-infected patients with syphilis were in HIV care. Although treatment was adequate and timely among all providers, management differed by provider type. Among HIV-infected patients, a larger proportion diagnosed by public HIV providers than private providers were tested for syphilis at least once in the previous 12 months (89.6% vs. 40.0%; p < 0.001). The characteristics of MSM diagnosed with early syphilis in Multnomah County remained largely unchanged during 2008-2013. Syphilis control measures were well established, but early syphilis among MSM continued to increase. The results suggest a need to improve syphilis screening among private clinics, but few gaps in clinical management were identified.

A case-control study evaluating the role of internet meet-up sites and mobile telephone applications in influencing a syphilis outbreak: Multnomah County, Oregon, USA 2014.

OBJECTIVES: Early syphilis in Multnomah County, Oregon, USA, increased 16-fold during 2007-2013. Cases predominantly occurred among men who have sex with men (MSM); 55% were HIV coinfected. We conducted a case-control study to evaluate the association between meeting sex partners online and early syphilis. METHODS: Cases subjects (cases) were Multnomah County resident, English speaking, MSM, aged ≥18 years with laboratory-confirmed early syphilis reported 1 January to 31 December 2013. We recruited two MSM controls subjects (controls) per case, frequency matched by HIV status and age. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires. We performed multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Seventy per cent (40/57) of cases and 42% (50/119) of controls met partners online (p<0.001). Cases more frequently met partners online (adjusted OR (aOR)=3.0; 95% CI 1.2 to 6.7), controlling for presumptive confounders. Cases reported more partners than controls (medians 5, 2; p<0.001). When including number of partners, aOR decreased to 1.4 (95% CI 0.5 to 3.9). CONCLUSIONS: Early syphilis was associated with meeting partners online. We believe this association may be related to number of sex partners acting as an intermediate variable between use of online resources to meet sex partners and early syphilis. Online meet-up sites might represent areas for public health interventions targeting at-risk individuals.

Emergence of increased azithromycin resistance during unsuccessful treatment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection with azithromycin (Portland, OR, 2011).

We describe the emergence of an azithromycin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae variant in a man from Portland, Oregon, during sole treatment with 2 g azithromycin. This report highlights the ease with which gonococcal macrolide resistance can emerge, the threat of multidrug resistant N. gonorrhoeae, and the need for adherence to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention treatment guidelines.

Developing consumer involvement in rural HIV primary care programmes.

OBJECTIVES: As part of a broader medical and psychosocial needs assessment in a rural region of northern California, USA, five focus groups were conducted to explore innovative approaches to creating a system of consumer involvement in the delivery of HIV primary care services in the region. DESIGN: A total of five focus groups (n = 30) were conducted with clients from three of five counties in the region with the highest number of HIV patients receiving primary care. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Participants were recruited by their HIV case managers. They were adults living with HIV, who were receiving health care, and who resided in a rural mountain region of northern California. VARIABLES STUDIED: Group discussions explored ideas for new strategies and examined traditional methods of consumer involvement, considering ways they could be adapted for a rural environment. RESULTS: Recommendations for consumer involvement included a multi-method approach consisting of traditional written surveys, a formal advisory group, and monthly consumer led social support/informal input groups. Specific challenges discussed included winter weather conditions, transportation barriers, physical limitations, confidentiality concerns, and needs for social support and education. CONCLUSIONS: A multiple-method approach would ensure more comprehensive consumer involvement in the programme planning process. It is also evident that methods for incorporating consumer involvement must be adapted to the specific context and circumstances of a given programme.