Network Modeling of PrEP Uptake on Referral Networks and Health Venue Utilization Among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men.

The objective of this study is to identify individual-level factors and health venue utilization patterns associated with uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and to evaluate whether PrEP uptake behavior is further diffused among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) through health venue referral networks. A sample of 543 HIV-seronegative YMSM aged 16-29 were recruited in 2014-2016 in Chicago, IL, and Houston, TX. Stochastic social network models were estimated to model PrEP uptake.

Knowledge and Attitudes About Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness in Seven U.S. Cities.

Purpose: Evidence suggests that young adults experiencing homelessness (YEH) are at elevated risk of HIV compared to housed youth. Given the limited research on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness among YEH, this study examined their PrEP knowledge and attitudes.

Methods: Data from a cross-sectional survey among YEH (ages 18-26) (n = 1,427) in seven U.

Single tablet HIV regimens facilitate virologic suppression and retention in care among treatment naïve patients.

Newer HIV regimens are typically taken once daily but vary in the number of pills required. Whether the number of pills in a once-daily HIV regimen affects clinical outcomes is unknown. We retrospectively compared adherence, retention in care, and virologic outcomes between patients starting a once daily single-tablet regimen (STR) to patients starting a once-daily multi-tablet regimen (MTR) in a publicly funded clinic in the United States.

Correlates of Linkage to HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Among HIV-Testing Clients.

Background: Publicly funded HIV-testing sites can identify HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) candidates and provide PrEP linkage.

Setting: Harris Health System's HIV clinic, HIV-testing program, and HIV-prevention program (HPP) in Houston, TX, a high HIV-incidence city.

Methods: A prospective assessment of individuals aged 18 years and older recruited from walk-in HIV testing from December 2013 to April 2015 included risk assessment, HIV testing, and self-administered survey, with follow-up surveys at 6 and 12 months and medical record review.

Social networks as drivers of syphilis and HIV infection among young men who have sex with men.

Objectives: Syphilis and HIV epidemics overlap, yet little is known about combined network and behavioural factors that drive syphilis-HIV coinfection. Our study objective was to assess network contexts and sexual behaviours associated with syphilis-HIV co-infection and monoinfection among a particularly vulnerable subgroup: young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM). To achieve this objective, we examined factors associated with coinfection by each subgroup as classified by syphilis-HIV infection status: (A) HIV monoinfected, (B) syphilis monoinfected and (C) neither syphilis infected nor HIV infected.

HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Program Implementation Using Intervention Mapping.

Introduction: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis has been proven to be an effective tool in HIV prevention. However, numerous barriers still exist in pre-exposure prophylaxis implementation.

Methods: The framework of Intervention Mapping was used from August 2016 to October 2017 to describe the process of adoption, implementation, and maintenance of an HIV prevention program from 2012 through 2017 in Houston, Texas, that is nested within a county health system HIV clinic.

Evolving Models and Ongoing Challenges for HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Implementation in the United States.

Background: The use of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2012, but delivery to at-risk persons has lagged. This critical review analyzes the current state of PrEP implementation in the United States, by reviewing barriers and innovative solutions to enhance PrEP access and uptake.

Setting: Clinical care settings, public health programs, and community-based organizations (CBOs).

Pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention in women: current perspectives.

There are ~900,000 new HIV infections among women every year, representing nearly half of all new HIV infections globally. In the US, nearly one-fifth of all new HIV infections occur among women, and women from racial and ethnic minority communities experience disproportionately high rates of new HIV infections. Thus, there is a need to develop and implement effective HIV prevention strategies for women in the US and internationally, with a specific need to advance strategies in minority communities.

Benefits of a routine opt-out HIV testing and linkage to care program for previously diagnosed patients in publicly funded emergency departments in Houston, TX.

Background: The Routine Universal Screening for HIV program provides opt-out HIV testing and linkage to care for emergency department (ED) patients in Harris Health System, Houston, TX. Seventy-five percent of patients testing positive in this program have been previously diagnosed. Whether linkage to care is increased among these patients is unknown.

Perspectives on HIV prevention among urban black women: a potential role for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis.

Limited data exist regarding attitudes and acceptability of topical and oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among US black women. This investigation explored interest in HIV chemoprophylaxis and modes of use. Five focus groups enrolled 26 black women recruited from an inner-city community health center and affiliated HIV testing sites.

Trypanosoma cruzi meningoencephalitis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

As a result of global migration, a significant number of people with Trypanosoma cruzi infection now live in the United States, Canada, many countries in Europe, and other non-endemic countries. Trypanosoma cruzi meningoencephalitis is a rare cause of ring-enhancing lesions in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) that can closely mimic central nervous system (CNS) toxoplasmosis. We report a case of CNS Chagas reactivation in an AIDS patient successfully treated with benznidazole and antiretroviral therapy in the United States.