International Journal of STD & AIDS最新文献

Background: Pregnant women living with HIV are known to be at higher risk of depression than pregnant women without HIV. Accompanied by a systematic literature review, the aim of this study was to determine the global prevalence of depression in pregnant women living with HIV.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and Web of Science databases were searched. The references of the included publications and a similar meta-analysis study were also reviewed. The 19 included studies were assessed for quality using standard forms. Pooled prevalence was calculated using a random effects model. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed using various methods. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were also performed.

Results: Of the 19 studies included in the review, six of the studies were published between 2008 and 2014, and 13 were published between 2017 and 2023. 15 studies were conducted in African countries. According to study type, eight studies were cross-sectional and seven were cohort studies. The pooled prevalence of depression was calculated to be 45%. The prevalence in African countries was 37.7%. The studies were found to be statistically significantly heterogeneous. Tests and funnel plots showed no publication bias in this meta-analysis. The variables place, study type and scale made the model significant in the meta-regression.

Conclusion: In this meta-analysis, 6379 women aged 18 years and older were examined and their depression levels were found to be high. Taking steps to struggle with HIV and depression in people living with HIV seems important.

Background: The management of vulval disorders in Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) clinics requires targeted approaches due to the wide range of conditions affecting the vulva. Vulval diseases encompass various aetiologies, including dermatoses, pain syndromes, and pre-malignant conditions, necessitating specialized care often involving multidisciplinary collaboration.

Purpose: This guideline aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of specific vulval conditions that may present in GUM clinics. The focus is on conditions commonly managed by Genitourinary Physicians, either independently or in partnership with other specialists, depending on available local expertise. Additionally, guidance on onward referral is included to ensure optimal patient care.

Study sample: The guideline primarily addresses the management of individuals aged 16 years and older presenting to GUM clinics with non-infective vulval conditions.

Data collection: Recommendations within this guideline are derived from a review of existing literature, clinical expertise, and consensus among specialists. Emphasis is placed on diagnostic tests and treatment regimens tailored to the following conditions: Lichen sclerosus, Lichen planus, Eczema, Lichen simplex, Psoriasis, Vulval high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (previously vulval intraepithelial neoplasia), Vulval pain syndromes, and Non-sexually acquired acute genital ulceration (Ulcer of Lipschütz).

Conclusions: This guideline offers practical recommendations for the effective management of specific vulval disorders in GUM settings. It is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all vulval diseases but rather a focused resource to assist clinicians in providing high-quality, patient-centred care. Onward referral pathways are also outlined to support collaborative and multidisciplinary management of complex cases.

Background: This study investigates the use of patient portals for disclosing sexually transmitted infection (STI) test result histories to sexual partners among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States.

Methods: Using data from the 2022-2023 American Men's Internet Survey, this cross-sectional analysis examined demographic, behavioral, and healthcare-related factors associated with MSM's utilization of patient portals for sharing STI test results. Participants (N = 2601) were surveyed on portal use, STI testing frequency, and partner disclosure practices.

Results: 18% of survey participants used portals to disclose a STI test result to parrtners, with higher prevalences among individuals aged 16-37 years old versus 56 years and older, black non-Hispanic (26.4%) versus white non-Hispanic (16.8%), and those reporting nine or more times being tested for STIs (30.1%) versus 1 to 3 times (7.5%). Participants reporting sex work (33.3% vs 17.7%) and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use (24.2% vs 13.0%) also had a higher prevalence of portal use for disclosure. Multivariable Poisson regression analysis with robust error variance showed that sexual behavioral stigma from family and friends [adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) = 1.11; p = .04] also, being tested for STIs four to 8 (aPR = 2.21; p < .001) and nine or more times aPR = 3.42; p < .001) were significantly associated with prevalence of portal-based disclosure.

Conclusion: Findings suggest patient portals may be viable tools for STI prevention in MSM communities, especially among individuals with increased vulnerability to STI acquisition. Addressing disparities in portal access and explaining patient portal capabilities may enhance the role of digital health in reducing STI transmission among MSM communities.

Background: Cisgender women living with HIV (WLWH) are disproportionately impacted by cervical cancer. Nevertheless, disparities in uptake and implementation of cervical cancer services persist in sub-Saharan Africa, where population-level estimates of screening coverage remain scarce.

Methods: We pooled data from nationally representative Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (PHIA) surveys conducted in Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe (2015-2019). After estimating the prevalence of self-reported lifetime cervical cancer screening (overall and by country), survey-weighted multivariable log-binomial regression identified socio-demographic and clinical correlates of screening uptake among WLWH aged 25-64 years.

Results: Overall, 6933 WLWH (mean age: 39.6 years) were included in the multi-country sample. The pooled prevalence of lifetime cervical cancer screening was 18.5% (range: 8.5% [Rwanda] to 25.3% [Zambia]). Screening uptake varied by HIV clinical status, with serostatus-aware (21.3% vs 9.0%), antiretroviral therapy-experienced (22.0% vs 10.5%), and virally suppressed (22.1% vs 11.6%) WLWH, respectively, reporting significantly (p < 0.001) higher screening rates. Screening was especially low among WLWH aged <35 years (14.7%), with no formal education (12.1%), in the poorest households (7.9%), and residing in rural areas (14.0%).

Conclusions: Fewer than one-fifth of WLWH had ever screened for cervical cancer, suggesting expanded availability and access to tailored, integrated services are critically needed.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia is an uncommon presentation of CMV among patients with HIV/AIDS, particularly in co-infection with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP). A case was reported with a literature review, and a comprehensive literature search was performed using the PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus databases. We report a 52-year-old male with AIDS presenting with progressively worsening dyspnea over 1 week. One month earlier, he had completed a 21-day course of PCP treatment, showed improvement and was discharged. Two weeks before presentation, he started antiretroviral therapy (ART), but his dyspnea worsened significantly 1 week later. Chest radiography showed bilateral ground glass opacities. Bronchoscopy and lung biopsy revealed nuclear enlargement with prominent intranuclear inclusions and marginated chromatin of alveolar cells on H&E staining, along with positive immunohistochemistry for CMV. Grocott's methenamine silver staining identified 3-5 μm irregular yeast-like organisms resembling crushed ping-pong balls, consistent with P. jirovecii. He was treated with intravenous ganciclovir for a total of 21 days, and his clinical and radiologic findings completely resolved. CMV pneumonia co-infection with PCP is extremely rare and should be considered among patients with severely immunocompromise with interstitial pneumonitis unresponsive to PCP treatment or recurring after treatment.

Background: Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is responsible for non-gonococcal urethritis. Our aim is to describe MG positivity rate and incidence in specific populations.

Methods: Retrospective, surveillance study included all samples collected from 2018 to 2022. All samples were tested with Anyplex II STI7 (Seegene). Incidence rate (IR) was calculated, incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were assessed using Poisson regression model.

Results: The study included 13,504 samples belonging to 7,692 individuals. Overall positivity rate was 2.9% (95%CI 2.6-3.2). Subgroups showed significant differences: 13.6% in PrEP users, 5.2% in STI clinic, 4.6% in people living with HIV (PLWH), 1.2% in Gynecology/Obstetrics Department, 0.5% in Fertility clinic, and 0.5% in the "Other" group (p < .001). A significant increasing temporal trend was registered for PLWH. Over a cumulative follow up of 2,554 years, 293 incident infections were registered with an IR of 11.5 per 100PYFU. Departments showed diverse IRs: 7.9 per 100PYFU for PLWH, 30.1 per 100PYFU for PrEP users, 22.7 per 100PYFU for STI clinic. Poisson regression model found a significant increase in incident rates over time in the overall study population driven by PLWH and PrEP users.

Conclusions: MG is uncommon in the general population with stable trends, while PLWH and PrEP users exhibit increasing positivity rate and incidence.

Background: Dermatophytosis is an infection of the skin or adnexa, which is extremely widespread in the environment. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are an increasing global public health threat, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). This study aims to describe an outbreak of sexually transmitted dermatophytosis among MSM in our cohort between April 2022 and October 2023.

Methods: This is a retrospective monocentric study including outpatients who were diagnosed with at least one episode of dermatophytosis between March 2010 and October 2023 at the Infectious Diseases Unit of San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. Mycosis diagnosis was mainly clinical following the medical visit and physical examination.

Results: Overall, 107 people were diagnosed with dermatophytosis between March 2010 and October 2023. All 56 cases observed since April 2022 included 55 MSM and 1 female; compared to before 2022 there was a total diagnosis of 51 cases.

Conclusions: These results highlight the evident increase in the incidence of mycotic infections among MSM, followed in our center. We are dealing with a new entity of sexually transmissible infections, in addition to the existing diseases that are being studied.

Background: Patients with syphilis are the only source of infection, which can be transmitted through sexual contact and mother-to-child and blood transmission, and rarely through contaminants. The clinical manifestations of syphilis are complex and variable, and can be easily misdiagnosed. This article reports a case of syphilis in a child with "psoriasis"-like lesions who was fed pre-chewed food.

Case presentation: An 18-month-old girl presented with mung bean to peanut-sized erythema and papules scattered on both lower limbs and perianal area; some of the erythema was covered with scales, with clear boundaries and no fusion. The case was misdiagnosed as "psoriasis" in the local hospital until the child and her mother tested positive for syphilis in the outpatient clinic of our hospital. The girl's mother had a habit of chewing food in her mouth before feeding it to her child.

Conclusions: Consumption of food chewed by a person with syphilis can lead to infection, and attention should be paid to the possible ways and means of being infected.

Background: BICSTaR is a multi-national, observational cohort evaluating the effectiveness, safety, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in treatment-naïve (TN) and -experienced (TE) people with HIV-1 receiving bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) in routine clinical care. We present the 12-month (M12) outcomes of the Italian BICSTaR cohort.

Methods: Participants initiating B/F/TAF in routine care were prospectively followed. Outcomes included virological and immunologic effectiveness, drug-related adverse events (DRAEs), treatment persistence, and PROs using the HIV Symptom Index (HIV-SI) and the HIV Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaires (HIVTSQ).

Results: N = 201 were included (29 TN, 172 TE), 83% male, median age 38 years in TN, 48 years in TE. At baseline, 94% of TE had an HIV-1 RNA <50 cp/mL, 92% switched to B/F/TAF for simplification. Overall, 69% reported comorbidities (TN: 59%, TE: 70%). At M12, 88% (23/26) of TN and 96% (152/159) of TE had an HIV-1 RNA <50 cp/mL in the discontinuation = failure analysis (without emergence of resistance to B/F/TAF). Median CD4 count changes were +296 cells/µL (interquartile range [IQR], 118, 383) in TN, and +23 cells/µl (-137, 114) in TE. DRAEs were reported for 5% and led to discontinuation in 1%. M12 persistence on B/F/TAF was 97%. TN had a median HIV-SI bothersome symptom count decrease of -1.5 (IQR, -5.0, 0.0). Median treatment satisfaction change score was +29.0 (21, 30) in TE indicating an improvement.

Conclusions: In this real-world Italian cohort of mostly treatment-experienced people switching for simplification, B/F/TAF demonstrated high effectiveness and persistence over 12 months and confirmed the favourable safety profile shown in clinical trials.

Trial registration: European cohort: EUPAS22185.