Factors Associated With Willingness to Use Daily Antibiotics as Sexually Transmitted Infection Prophylaxis Among HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis-Experienced Gay and Bisexual Men in Australia.

Background: Gay and bisexual men (GBM) who use HIV preexposure prophylaxis (HIV-PrEP) have high rates of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The use of daily antibiotics as STI preexposure prophylaxis (STI-PrEP) may be appealing to GBM who are using or have previously used HIV-PrEP (HIV-PrEP-experienced) for the prevention of bacterial STIs.

Methods: We examined willingness to use daily STI-PrEP among a cross-sectional sample of HIV-PrEP-experienced GBM in Australia who participated in an observational online cohort study from August 2018 to March 2020.

Predictors of Daily Adherence to HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in Gay/Bisexual Men in the PRELUDE Demonstration Project.

Adequate adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is critical to prevent HIV infection, but accurately measuring adherence remains challenging. We compared two biological [blood drug concentrations in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)] and two self-reported measures (facilitated recall to clinicians and self-report in online surveys) and identified predictors of daily PrEP adherence among gay and bisexual men (GBM) in their first 12 months on PRELUDE, an open-label, single-arm PrEP demonstration project in New South Wales, Australia. 327 participants were enrolled; 263 GBM attended their 12-month follow-up visit (81% retention).

Getting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to the people: opportunities, challenges and examples of successful health service models of PrEP implementation.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with antiretrovirals could prevent millions of infections, yet effective strategies to get PrEP delivered are just being defined. This editorial introduces a series of 17 articles which form a special issue of Sexual Health focused on the opportunities and challenges for health service providers engaged in PrEP prescribing. All pieces presented here share useful lessons from PrEP pioneers; more than that, they should serve as catalysts to accelerate PrEP implementation around the world.

The estimated number of potential PrEP users among gay-identifying men who have sex with men in Australia.

We estimated the size of the population of gay-identified men who have sex with men (gay men) eligible for PrEP in Australia under the current national PrEP guidelines. Using input indicators from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the national representative survey Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships, and national HIV- behavioural surveillance, we calculated the size of the population of sexually active gay men and estimated a range for the number eligible for PrEP using different scenarios based on the guidelines. In 2015, an estimated 108,850 sexually-active 16-69-year-old gay men were classified as at risk of acquiring HIV in Australia.

Correction: expanded HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) implementation in communities in new South Wales, Australia (EPIC-NSW): design of an open label, single arm implementation trial.

After publication of the article [1], it has been brought to our attention that one of the members of the EPIC-NSW study group has had their name spelt incorrectly in the acknowledgements. The article mentions "Muhammad Hammoud" when in fact the correct spelling is "Mohamed Hammoud".

Expanded HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) implementation in communities in New South Wales, Australia (EPIC-NSW): design of an open label, single arm implementation trial.

Background: The New South Wales (NSW) HIV Strategy 2016-2020 aims for the virtual elimination of HIV transmission in NSW, Australia, by 2020. Despite high and increasing levels of HIV testing and treatment since 2012, the annual number of HIV diagnoses in NSW has remained generally unchanged. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective in preventing HIV infection among gay and bisexual men (GBM) when taken appropriately.

Baseline Preferences for Daily, Event-Driven, or Periodic HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis among Gay and Bisexual Men in the Demonstration Project.

Introduction: The effectiveness of daily pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is well established. However, there has been increasing interest in non-daily dosing schedules among gay and bisexual men (GBM). This paper explores preferences for PrEP dosing schedules among GBM at baseline in the demonstration project.

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.

Validation of participant eligibility for pre-exposure prophylaxis: Baseline data from the PRELUDE demonstration project.

Background: In Australia, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is targeted to individuals at high risk for HIV infection. We describe the HIV risk profile and characteristics of PRELUDE participants, and evaluate the population validity of the sample in representing high-risk gay and bisexual men (GBM) eligible for PrEP.

Methods: PRELUDE is an on-going, open-label, single-arm observational study.

Likely impact of pre-exposure prophylaxis on HIV epidemics among men who have sex with men.

Rapid developments in the field of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with antiretrovirals offer a promise to bring HIV transmission among gay and other men who have sex with men (MSM) to zero by 2030. This review evaluates studies, which modelled the impact of PrEP on HIV diagnoses, and discusses the progress towards PrEP implementation. Studies in English, conducted after 2010 among MSM in countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) were reviewed.

Hospitalization for Anxiety and Mood Disorders in HIV-Infected and -Uninfected Gay and Bisexual Men.

Background: Prevalence of anxiety and mood disorders (AMDs) in HIV-infected individuals has varied widely because of the variety of measurements used and differences in risk factor profiles between different populations. We aimed to examine the relationship between HIV status and hospitalization for AMDs in gay and bisexual men (GBM).

Design And Methods: HIV-infected (n = 557) and HIV-uninfected (n = 1325) GBM recruited in Sydney, Australia were probabilistically linked to their hospital admissions and death notifications (2000-2012).

The Meaning of 'Regular Partner' in HIV Research Among Gay and Bisexual Men: Implications of an Australian Cross-Sectional Survey.

Estimates of the proportion of HIV infections coming from within regular sexual relationships among gay and bisexual men (GBM) vary widely. Research surveys use various partner type categories, but there is little understanding of how men classify their partners. We conducted an online cross-sectional survey of Australian GBM exploring sexual relationships, including 2057 men reporting on 2566 regular partnerships.

Patterns of Drug Use and Drug-related Hospital Admissions in HIV-Positive and -Negative Gay and Bisexual Men.

We aimed to compare rates of illicit drug-related hospitalisations in HIV-negative (HIV-ve) (n = 1325) and HIV-positive (HIV+ve) (n = 557) gay and bisexual men (GBM) with rates seen in the general male population and to examine the association between self-reported illicit drug use and drug-related hospitalisation. Participants were asked how often they used a range of illicit drugs in the previous 6 months at annual interviews. Drug-related hospital admissions were defined as hospital admissions for mental or behavioural disorders due to illicit drug use (ICD 10: F11-16, F18, F19), drug poisoning (T40-T45, T50) or toxic effect of gases (T53, T59, T65).

Willingness to Act upon Beliefs about 'Treatment as Prevention' among Australian Gay and Bisexual Men.

HIV 'treatment as prevention' (TasP) is highly effective in reducing HIV transmission in serodiscordant couples. There has been little examination of gay and bisexual men's attitudes towards TasP, particularly regarding men's willingness to act on beliefs about TasP. We conducted an online cross-sectional survey of Australian men in late 2012 to investigate knowledge and beliefs about new developments in HIV prevention.

Methodological challenges in collecting social and behavioural data regarding the HIV epidemic among gay and other men who have sex with men in Australia.

Background: Behavioural surveillance and research among gay and other men who have sex with men (GMSM) commonly relies on non-random recruitment approaches. Methodological challenges limit their ability to accurately represent the population of adult GMSM. We compared the social and behavioural profiles of GMSM recruited via venue-based, online, and respondent-driven sampling (RDS) and discussed their utility for behavioural surveillance.

Bringing new HIV infections to zero - opportunities and challenges offered by antiretroviral-based prevention in Asia, the Pacific and beyond: An overview of this special issue.

This editorial to the special issue of Sexual Health on antiretroviral-based prevention of HIV infection is dedicated to showcasing research and practice in this area. It aims to promote debate regarding the potential of new antiretroviral-based prevention approaches and the challenges encountered in moving prevention innovations into the community. This special issue covers the breadth of innovative HIV prevention research, including that undertaken in the fields of epidemiology, clinical research, social and behavioural science, public health and policy analysis, and with special emphasis on Asia and the Pacific region.

At home and away: gay men and high risk sexual practices.

We aimed to describe HIV risk practices of gay men who travel locally, regionally and overseas. We analysed data from the Sydney Gay Community Periodic Survey 2009 about high-risk sexual practices in four locations (locally, while travelling in NSW, Australia and overseas) and with partners of HIV positive, negative and unknown serostatus in each location. Analyses of associations used generalized log-binomial estimation procedures with Type I error of 5 %.

Understanding of norms regarding sexual practices among gay men: literature review.

Since there is little evidence about gay community norms across the world, we reviewed published literature in this area and discuss implications for prevention and research. Eight databases were searched for articles and 16 were considered suitable for analysis. All used quantitative methodology and seven were based on a published theoretical framework.

Australian gay men who have taken nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis for HIV are in need of effective HIV prevention methods.

Background: Gay men who request nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) may seek preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) should this become available. We explored trends and predictors of PEP use among Australian gay men to inform future biomedical prevention programs.

Methods: We used 2001-2010 data from Gay Community Periodic Surveys in 3 Eastern Australian states and assessed PEP awareness and use in the 6 months before each survey, and among HIV-uninfected men in all surveys predictors of PEP use.

Behavioural surveillance among gay men in Australia: methods, findings and policy implications for the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmissible infections.

Background: The Australian HIV and sexually transmissible infection (STI) behavioural surveillance system (the repeated cross-sectional Gay Community Periodic Surveys, GCPS) has been conducted since 1998 and covers six main Australian jurisdictions. In this paper, we review its history and methodology, and the available indicators, their trends and their use.

Methods: We describe the design and history of GCPS.