Implementing a multimodal intervention using local resources to improve hand hygiene compliance in a comprehensive specialized hospital in Mekelle, Northern Ethiopia.

Background: Hand hygiene (HH) is known to be the most effective practice to reduce Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The main barriers to HH practices among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Sub-Saharan Africa are heavy workload, infrastructural deficits, and poorly positioned facilities. There is limited data on HH compliance and particularly on the impact of the World Health Organization's (WHO) multimodal HH strategy in low- and middle-income countries.

Missed opportunities for HIV testing and sexual health-related challenges in an individual with intellectual disability: a case report.

Background: HIV testing remains an important tool in identifying people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). An early diagnosis of HIV can lead to a prolonged life expectancy if treatment is initiated promptly. Indicator conditions can be the first sign of an HIV infection and should therefore be recognised and consequently a HIV test should be carried out.

[Sexually transmitted infections under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic].

Sexually transmitted infections (STI) in Germany are constantly rising. STI screening and testing decreased during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic due to redistribution of public health resources. During the pandemic, there was a decline in the diagnosis of STIs.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on systemic immune responses in people living with HIV.

Despite the development of vaccines, which protect healthy people from severe and life-threatening Covid-19, the immunological responses of people with secondary immunodeficiencies to these vaccines remain incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the humoral and cellular immune responses elicited by mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in a cohort of people living with HIV (PLWH) receiving anti-retroviral therapy. While antibody responses in PLWH increased progressively after each vaccination, they were significantly reduced compared to the HIV-negative control group.

Cholesterol-conjugated siRNAs silence gene expression in mucosal dendritic cells in cervicovaginal tissue in mice.

Background: RNA interference (RNAi) provides a powerful way to investigate the role of genes in disease pathogenesis and modulate gene expression to treat disease. In 2018, the FDA approved patisiran, the first RNAi-based drug, hence paving the way for a novel class of RNAi therapeutics. Harnessing RNAi to inhibit vaginal HIV transmission requires effective gene silencing in immune cells, which remains difficult.

Changes in the user profiles of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) before and after PrEP reimbursement.

Background: In Germany, oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) was licensed in 2016. Health insurances have been covering the costs since 09/2019. This study compares the sociodemographic profiles of PrEP users before and after PrEP re-imbursement.

Online HIV/STI Risk Test (ORT): A prospective cross-sectional study among sexually active individuals in Germany.

Background: Our goal was to develop and evaluate an anonymous self-administrable web-based test to determine risk for HIV/STI.

Methods: The Online HIV/STI Risk Test was developed and hosted since 12/2017. 11,529 participants completed the test and 10,668 were analyzed.

[Sexual behavior and prevention of sexually transmitted infections taking the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic into account. Data from a sexual healthcare and medicine center-WIR].

Background: Application-based data regarding sexual health and sexual behavior in various sexually active populations are scarce but at the same time relevant with regards to prevention and healthcare supply strategies. Given the structure of its attendees, the Walk In Ruhr (WIR) Center for Sexual Health and Medicine is able to obtain data from diverse living environments.

Objectives: Based on the online HIV/STI risk test, questionnaires, and attendee data from the WIR, this study aims to deduce population-related findings with regards to age, gender, sexual orientation, and sexual and risk behavior as well as the respective needs for prevention.

[Sexual health and medicine at the WIR-Walk In Ruhr: presentation of the center and results of the evaluation].

Background: Holistic sexual healthcare factors in diversity of social habitat and aims to improvise client outreach for prevention, testing, counseling, and treatment of STIs. Towards this goal, the immunology outpatient clinic, the public health department of Bochum, the AIDS Service Organization Bochum e. v.

DRH1 - a novel blood-based HPV tumour marker.

Background: To date, no studies have successfully shown that a highly specific, blood-based tumour marker to detect clinically relevant HPV-induced disease could be used for screening, monitoring therapy response or early detection of recurrence. This study aims to assess the clinical performance of a newly developed HPV16-L1 DRH1 epitope-specific serological assay.

Methods: In a multi-centre study sera of 1486 patients (301 Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) patients, 12 HIV+ anal cancer patients, 80 HIV-positive patients, 29 Gardasil-9-vaccinees, 1064 healthy controls) were tested for human HPV16-L1 DRH1 antibodies.

[HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis care in intersectoral collaboration : Interim analysis of a monocentric, prospective study in Germany].

Background: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a further opportunity to prevent HIV, is available at the WIR-Walk In Ruhr, Centre for Sexual Health and Medicine, as part of an innovative model project for intersectoral PrEP care.

Research Objectives: The present study describes the collective of persons provided with PrEP and how PrEP use influences sexual risk behaviour, the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and adverse drug reactions.

Methods: A total of 139 men who started PrEP between 10/2017 and 12/2018 have been included in the study.

Bacterial sexually transmitted infections.

Worldwide, the incidence of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has shown a significant increase in recent years. In Germany, this circumstance is reflected by a rise in the number of reported syphilis cases. There has also been an uptick in the incidence of non-notifiable STIs such as gonorrhea and infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium.

Bakterielle sexuell übertragbare Infektionen.

Bakterielle sexuell übertragbare Infektionen (STI) zeigen seit Jahren weltweit eine deutliche Zunahme. In Deutschland wird diese Tatsache durch steigende Meldezahlen für Syphilis bestätigt. Auch für die nicht meldepflichtigen STI Gonorrhoe, Chlamydia-trachomatis- und Mycoplasma-genitalium-Infektionen wird eine zunehmende Inzidenz beobachtet.

Severe dyslipidemia and immune activation in HIV patients with dysglycemia.

Background And Objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. However, the relationship between dysglycemia, lipid metabolism, and immune activation in HIV patients is poorly understood.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 180 HIV patients, including 153 patients undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and 27 HAART-naive patients.

Prevalence and Influencing Factors of Thyroid Dysfunction in HIV-Infected Patients.

Thyroid dysfunction is more common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients. But the effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and hepatitis B/C virus (HBV/HCV) coinfection on thyroid function is unclear. We retrospectively reviewed the data of 178 HIV patients and determined the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and the relationship between thyroid hormone levels, CD4 cell count, HIV-1 duration, HAART duration/regimens, and HBV/HCV coinfection.

[The Competence Network for HIV/AIDS. Data, Samples, Facts].

Background: With funding for the Competence Networks in Medicine from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Competence Network for HIV/AIDS (KompNet HIV/AIDS) was established as an interdisciplinary research association. Essential working groups were incorporated all over Germany, which are active in clinical and basic HIV/AIDS research.

Objectives: After successful establishment, providing research infrastructure for national and international cooperation in the field of HIV/AIDS was the focus of the network.

Late presentation for HIV care across Europe: update from the Collaboration of Observational HIV Epidemiological Research Europe (COHERE) study, 2010 to 2013.

Late presentation (LP) for HIV care across Europe remains a significant issue. We provide a cross-European update from 34 countries on the prevalence and risk factors of LP for 2010-2013. People aged ≥ 16 presenting for HIV care (earliest of HIV-diagnosis, first clinic visit or cohort enrollment) after 1 January 2010 with available CD4 count within six months of presentation were included.