Chlamydia retesting remains low among young women in Australia: an observational study using sentinel surveillance data, 2018-2022.

Background: Chlamydia remains the most notified bacterial sexually transmissible infection in Australia with guidelines recommending testing for re-infection at 3months post treatment. This paper aimed to determine chlamydia retesting and repeat positivity rates within 2-4months among young women in Australia, and to evaluate what factors increase or decrease the likelihood of retesting.

Methods: Chlamydia retesting rates among 16-29-year-old women were analysed from Australian Collaboration for Coordinated Enhanced Sentinel Surveillance of sexually transmissible infection and bloodborne virus (ACCESS) sentinel surveillance data (n =62 sites).

Using Videoconferencing Focus Groups in Sexual and Reproductive Health Research With Chinese Im/Migrants in Australia.

Videoconferencing focus groups have emerged as a popular method for collecting qualitative data. However, its use in sexual and reproductive health research is still very much in its infancy. Based on participants' feedback and researchers' reflections on using videoconferencing focus groups to collect sexual and reproductive health data with 39 heterosexual and non-heterosexual Chinese im/migrants in Australia, we discuss some of the key lessons learned, and considerations involved in shifting from face-to-face to online focus groups.

Renal impairment in a large-scale HIV preexposure prophylaxis implementation cohort.

Background: HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with fixed-dose tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricitabine has been associated with low rates of renal impairment in clinical trials. Large-scale PrEP implementation may result in higher rates, as the prevalence of associated risk factors may be higher than in trial populations.

Methods: A posthoc analysis of EPIC-NSW, a large Australian multicentre PrEP implementation trial for patients at high risk of HIV infection.

Two Distinct Gonorrhea Trends and Risk Factors Among Women in Australia.

Background: In recent years, gonorrhea notifications have increased in women in Australia and other countries. We measured trends over time and risk factors among Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ("Aboriginal") and non-Aboriginal women.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from 41 sexual health clinics.

Renal function change after switching tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for tenofovir alafenamide in the HIV-positive patients of a metropolitan sexual health service.

Background: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is widely used in the management of HIV-infection, but has been associated with renal impairment in a small proportion of patients. Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), a novel prodrug of tenofovir, causes less renal impairment and can improve renal function in patients switched from TDF. The factors which predict improved renal function in patients switching from TDF to TAF have yet to be described.

The prevalence and risk of non-infectious comorbidities in HIV-infected and non-HIV infected men attending general practice in Australia.

Background: Non-AIDS-related mortality rates among HIV-infected patients still exceed those of their uninfected peers. A major driver of this excess mortality is a higher risk of non-infectious comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis and cancer. The prevalence of mental illness and other chronic non-infectious comorbidities is identified as a primary concern of antiretroviral prescribers in Australia.

Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy for people newly diagnosed with HIV infection in Australia: trends and predictors, 2004-2015.

Objectives: To determine trends in and predictors of early treatment for people newly diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Australia.

Design, Setting: Retrospective cohort analysis of routinely collected longitudinal data from 44 sexual health clinics participating in the Australian Collaboration for Coordinated Enhanced Sentinel Surveillance (ACCESS) program.

Participants: Patients diagnosed with HIV infections, January 2004 - June 2015.

Renal function and risk factors for renal disease for patients receiving HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis at an inner metropolitan health service.

Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) significantly reduces the risk of HIV acquisition. TDF is a known nephrotoxin however, renal dysfunction from TDF is mostly reversible following discontinuation.

Aims: To describe the renal function, risk factors for renal disease and associated clinical testing practices in a cohort of PrEP patients.

Trends in mortality among ART-treated HIV-infected adults in the Asia-Pacific region between 1999 and 2017: results from the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database (TAHOD) and Australian HIV Observational Database (AHOD) of IeDEA Asia-Pacific.

Introduction: AIDS-related deaths in people living with HIV/AIDS have been decreasing in number since the introduction of combination antiretroviral treatment (cART). However, data on recent causes of death in the Asia-Pacific region are limited. Hence, we analysed and compared AIDS-related and non-AIDS-related mortality in high- and low-income settings in the region.

Gonorrhoea gone wild: rising incidence of gonorrhoea and associated risk factors among gay and bisexual men attending Australian sexual health clinics.

Unlabelled: Background Gonorrhoea notifications continue to rise among gay and bisexual men in Australia and around the world. More information is needed on infection trends, accounting for testing and complimented by demographics and risk practices.

Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was undertaken using repeat gonorrhoea testing data among gay and bisexual men from 2010 to 2017, which was extracted from a network of 47 sexual health clinics across Australia.

Assessing Risk of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder.

Background: People with HIV (PLHIV) are aging, and 20% are at risk of developing a neurological complication known as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). Signs and symptoms of HAND may be subtle; however, treatment can improve clinical outcomes.

Objective: The aim of the study was to identify and agree on a risk assessment and monitoring process for the regular review of patients at risk of HAND.

Human immunodeficiency virus-infected young people in Australia: data from the Australian HIV Observational Database.

Background: Individuals aged 13-24 years undergo vast physical, cognitive, social and psychological changes. Australian data regarding clinical outcomes of those diagnosed with HIV in this age are sparse.

Aim: We aimed to describe demographic factors, virologic and clinical outcomes of individuals aged 13-24 years diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Rising Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea Incidence and Associated Risk Factors Among Female Sex Workers in Australia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Female sex workers in Australia have achieved some of the lowest documented prevalences of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmissible infections globally but rates overall are increasing in Australia and warrant closer investigation.

Methods: We constructed a retrospective cohort using repeat testing data extracted from a network of 42 sexual health clinics. Poisson and Cox regression were used to determined trends in incidence and risk factors for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and infectious syphilis among female sex workers.

Potential impacts of poor communication on early diagnosis of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder.

Aim: To ascertain whether community-based healthcare providers were collecting appropriate information to identify patients at risk of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder and whether related documentation was complete.

Background: HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder is a treatable neurological condition that can affect more than 20% of those infected with the HIV. Signs and symptoms of cognitive impairment may be subtle; therefore, documentation of medical and social information could be beneficial in identifying those at risk.

Understanding the Targeting and Uptake of HIV Testing Among Gay and Bisexual Men Attending Sexual Health Clinics.

We assessed trends in HIV testing outcomes during a period of clinic-based initiatives introduced to increase HIV testing among gay and bisexual men (GBM) attending sexual health clinics (SHCs) in New South Wales (NSW). A cohort of 25,487 HIV-negative GBM attending 32 SHCs in NSW (2009-2015) was classified into six sub-groups each year based on client-type (new/existing), risk-status (low/high-risk), and any recent HIV testing. Poisson regression methods were used to assess HIV testing outcomes in sub-groups of GBM.

Hepatitis C testing and re-testing among people attending sexual health services in Australia, and hepatitis C incidence among people with human immunodeficiency virus: analysis of national sentinel surveillance data.

Background: Direct acting antivirals are expected to drastically reduce the burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). However, rates of HCV testing, re-testing and incident infection in this group remain uncertain in Australia. We assessed trends in HCV testing, re-testing and incident infection among HIV-positive individuals, and evaluated factors associated with HCV re-testing and incident infection.

Preexposure Prophylaxis of HIV Infection: the Role of Clinical Practices in Ending the HIV Epidemic.

Purpose Of Review: The aim of this study is to summarise the recent evidence from high-income settings about providers' ability to deliver on the UNAIDS goal of at least three million people at substantial risk of HIV infection with PrEP by 2020, including awareness and knowledge about PrEP, willingness to prescribe PrEP, current levels of prescribing and service delivery models and issues.

Recent Findings: Awareness about PrEP among health providers is growing, but at different pace depending on provider type. HIV and sexual health specialists are more likely to have knowledge about PrEP than generalists, and to be willing to prescribe it, mainly because of their closer contact with people at high risk for HIV and better risk assessment skills.

Retaining HIV-positive patients in HIV care: a personalised approach for those at risk of loss to follow-up at an inner city sexual health service.

In 2013 a personalised approach to follow-up of HIV patients who had withdrawn from HIV care was taken at RPA Sexual Health, a Sydney metropolitan sexual health service. HIV patients were telephoned, sent text messages, emailed and sent letters multiple times where applicable. With this intervention 20 of 23 people who had withdrawn from HIV care re-engaged.

Chronic kidney disease in Australian Human Immunodeficiency Virus-infected patients: Analysis of the Australian HIV Observational Database.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to examine data from the Australian HIV Observational Database (AHOD), and firstly, to describe the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the rate of loss of renal function in HIV-infected individuals living in Australia, and then to examine the risk factors contributing to CKD in this population.

Methods: AHOD patients over 18 years of age were eligible if they had at least two serum creatinine measurements from 1 April 2008 until 31 March 2016 and an initial estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) greater than 60 mL/min per 1.73 m .

Human papillomavirus vaccination and genital warts in young Indigenous Australians: national sentinel surveillance data.

Objectives: To examine the impact of the national human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program (available to girls and women [12-26 years] since 2007 and to boys [12-15 years] since 2013) on the number of diagnoses of genital warts in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) people.

Design, Setting, Participants: Analysis of routinely collected data from patients attending 39 sexual health clinics (SHCs) in the Genital Warts Surveillance Network for the first time.Major outcome: The average annual proportion of Indigenous and non-Indigenous SHC patients diagnosed with genital warts during the pre-vaccination (2004-2007) and vaccination periods (2008-2014), stratified by age group and sex.

Prevalence of HIV among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Unlabelled: Background Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (Aboriginal) are Australia's first peoples. Between 2006 and 2015, HIV notifications increased among Aboriginal people; however, among non-Aboriginal people, notifications remained relatively stable. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to examine the prevalence of HIV among Aboriginal people overall and by subgroups.

Screening and management practices for renal disease in the HIV-positive patient population of an inner metropolitan sexual health service.

Renal disease is an important and commonly encountered co-morbidity in HIV infection. Despite this, few data are available concerning renal disease in this patient group. A retrospective review was conducted of all HIV-positive patients of an inner metropolitan sexual health service who attended from 1 August 2013 to 31 July 2014 for HIV management.