Comorbidities associated with HPV infection among people living with HIV-1 in the southeastern US: a retrospective clinical cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The southeastern US is an epicenter for incident HIV in the US with high prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) co-infections. However, epidemiologies of HPV-associated clinical conditions (CC) among people living with HIV-1 infection (PLWH) are not fully known. METHODS: Electronic medical records (EMR) of PLWH attending one of the leading HIV clinics in the southeastern US between 2006 and 2018 were reviewed and analyzed. The retrospective study was nested within the University of Alabama at Birmingham HIV clinical cohort, which has electronically collected over 7000 PLWH's clinical and sociobehavioral data since 1999. Incidence rates of HPV-related CC including anogenital warts, penile, anal, cervical, and vaginal/vulvar low- and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL and HSIL) were estimated per 10,000 person years. Joinpoint regressions were performed to examine temporal changes in the trends of incident CC. All rates and trends were stratified by gender and race. RESULTS: Of the 4484 PLWH included in the study (3429 men, 1031 women, and 24 transgender), we observed 1038 patients with HPV-related CC. The median nadir CD4 count (cells/uL) was higher in the HPV-condition free group than the case groups (P < 0.0001). Anogenital warts, anal LSIL, HSIL, and cancer were more likely to be diagnosed among HIV-infected men than women. White men presented more frequently with anal LSIL and anal and penile cancers than black men (P < 0.03). White women were also more likely to be diagnosed with cervical HSIL (P = 0.023) and cancer (P = 0.037) than black women. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant differences between gender and race with incidence of HPV-related CC among HIV patients. EMR-based studies provide insights on understudied HPV-related anogenital conditions in PLWH; however, large-scale studies in other regions are needed to generalize current findings and draw public health attention to co-infection induced non-AIDS defining comorbidities among PLWH.

HIV Status and Other Risk Factors for Prevalent and Incident Sexually Transmitted Infection during Pregnancy (2000-2014).

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are associated with adverse birth outcomes. Current prenatal STI screening guidelines define "risk" without explicit consideration of HIV status. Our objective was to test the hypothesis that HIV status is associated with bacterial STI in pregnant women. Methods: We designed a retrospective cohort study to identify pregnant women with HIV who delivered at our facility during 2000-2014. HIV+ women were compared to HIV- women with matching by year of delivery. Logistic regression was used to model adjusted odds of prevalent and incident STI. Prevalent STI was defined as chlamydia (CT), gonorrhea (GC), syphilis, or trichomoniasis detected on an initial prenatal screening test and incident STI as a newly positive result following a negative prenatal test. Results: The cohort included 432 women, 210 HIV+ and 222 HIV-. Most pregnant women were screened for STI (92% of HIV+ women and 74% of HIV- women). STI rates were high and particularly elevated in HIV+ women: 29% vs 18% (p=0.02), for prevalent STI and 11% vs 2% (p<0.001) for incident STI. Risk factors for prevalent STI were as follows: HIV status (aOR 3.0, CI: 1.4-6.4), Black race (aOR 2.7, 95% CI: 1.1-6.6), and more recent delivery (2007-2014 compared to 2000-2006) (aOR 2.3, CI: 1.1-4.7). HIV status was an independent risk factor for incident STI (aOR 7.2, CI: 2.1-25.0). Conclusion: Pregnant women who delivered in our center had high STI rates. Since HIV infection was independently associated with prevalent and incident STI, prenatal screening guidelines may need to incorporate HIV status as a high-risk group for repeat testing.

Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevalence in Women With HIV: Is There a Role for Targeted Screening?

BACKGROUND: Rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV are highest in the southern United States but vary widely by sex, age, and risk behavior. Current guidelines recommend annual screening for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis in all sexually active women with HIV. METHODS: Screening rates and test positivity for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis were determined per calendar year in this retrospective cohort study of women in care at an urban HIV clinic in Birmingham, Alabama, from 2013 to 2015. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomonas infections were detected by molecular diagnostics and syphilis by serology. A combined end point for chlamydia/gonorrhea/syphilis (STI-3) was created based on similar test positivity and predictors. Predictors of STI-3 were identified using logistic regression and generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Among 745 women with HIV, median age was 46.8 years, 78.8% were black, and 61% were sexually active. In 2015, 83.7% of women were tested for STI. Test positivity was 1.0% for chlamydia, 0.5% for gonorrhea, 1.6% for syphilis, and 13.3% for trichomoniasis. Independent predictors of STI-3 were recent chlamydia or gonorrhea (odds ratio [OR], 3.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1-13.4; P = 0.047), public insurance compared with private (OR, 3.5; CI, 1-11.8; P = 0.048), and sex after drugs/alcohol (OR, 3.0; CI, 1.2-8.0; P = 0.025). Women 50 years or older were less likely to have STI (OR, 0.3; CI, 0.1-1; P = 0.040). CONCLUSIONS: In a cohort of women engaged in HIV care in the southern United States, detection of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis was infrequent but trichomoniasis was common. Many women screened for STI were low risk and universal testing strategies warrant evaluation.

Trichomonas vaginalis Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing at an Urban HIV Clinic.

BACKGROUND: Trichomonas vaginalis is the most common nonviral sexually transmitted infection. T. vaginalis nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) recently became available at the University of Alabama at Birmingham human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinic. The objective of this study was to determine the uptake of T. vaginalis NAAT testing among clinic providers during the first year of test availability in addition to T. vaginalis prevalence and predictors based on NAAT results. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of HIV+ women and men ages ≥16 years at the University of Alabama at Birmingham HIV Clinic, including those receiving a T. vaginalis NAAT on a genitourinary specimen. RESULTS: Between August 2014 and August 2015, 3163 HIV+ patients were seen (768 women, 2395 men), of whom 861 (27.3%) received a T. vaginalis NAAT; 402 women (52.3%) and 459 men (19.2%). Among those with T. vaginalis NAAT results, 70 (17.4%) of 402 women and 12 (2.6%) of 459 men (9 men who have sex with women, 1 man who has sex with men, 2 unknown) tested positive. In adjusted analyses for women, age ≤40 years (odds ratio [OR], 2.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-6.96), current cocaine use (OR, 4.86; 95% CI, 1.57-15.06), and CD4 < 200 cells/mm (OR, 6.09; 95% CI, 1.68-22.11) were significantly associated with increased odds of a positive T. vaginalis NAAT. For those with a positive T. vaginalis NAAT, treatment was prescribed for 65 (92.9%) of 70 women and 10 (83.3%) of 12 men. CONCLUSIONS: Initial uptake of T. vaginalis NAAT testing was modest at this HIV clinic yet identified a high prevalence among women tested. Emphasis on the need for testing in HIV+ women is necessary.

Evidence-based guidelines for the nutritional management of adult kidney transplant recipients.

OBJECTIVE: The present article summarizes the key recommendations of the evidence-based guidelines developed for the nutritional management of adult kidney transplant recipients. BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Nutrition interventions play an important role in preventing and managing common health problems associated with renal transplantation such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Two sets of guidelines were developed by a working group of renal dietitians and nephrologists. They were subject to expert panel review, and public consultation by renal clinicians and consumers before final endorsement by 2 authorities in Australia--Caring for Australasians with Renal Impairment (CARI) and Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA). Protocol and rigor of guideline development were previously described and published in the Journal of Renal Nutrition, 2009. RESULTS AND OUTCOMES: These guidelines address 13 priority topics identified by the renal community and complement each other with different emphasis, from research translation to day to day clinical practice recommendations. The published guidelines are available to the public through web-access of CARI and DAA, and journal publications. Information includes the guidelines themselves with level of evidence stated, grading of recommendations, suggestions for clinical care, search strategy, background and summary of evidence, recommendations of other guidelines, practice recommendations, appendices of useful tools, and suggestions for audits and future research. CONCLUSIONS: Two sets of comprehensive evidence-based nutrition guidelines from CARI and DAA are now available to help improve health outcomes of adult kidney transplant recipients.

Development of evidence-based guidelines for the nutritional management of adult kidney transplant recipients.

OBJECTIVE: This article documents the development of evidence-based guidelines for the nutritional management of adult kidney transplant recipients. Dietary interventions play an important role in preventing and managing common post-transplant health problems, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. However, there are currently no comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines for the nutritional management of kidney transplant recipients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirteen guideline topics were identified, including obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and bone disease, following broad consultation with clinicians and transplant recipients in Australia and New Zealand. A systematic review of the scientific literature was undertaken, the protocol for which is published in the Cochrane Library. The evidence was graded and synthesized, and evidence-based recommendations formulated consistent with National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia standards. A total of 119 scientific papers were assessed. CONCLUSION: There was no level I or II evidence to support any guideline; however, there was sufficient level III and IV evidence to support Grade C and D recommendations for six guideline topics. Experts from 18 transplant units in Australia and New Zealand were consulted to generate consensus-based recommendations for the remaining seven topics, using the Delphi method. Using evidence from a comprehensive literature search and expert opinion, guidelines that represent current best practice have been produced. These guidelines have been evaluated in transplant units throughout Australia and New Zealand and have been submitted to the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) and Caring for Australasians with Renal Impairment (CARI) for endorsement.