Publications by authors named "Louise Charest"
Background: Women living with HIV (WLHIV) have a high risk of anal cancer. Identifying risk factors for anal HPV 16 infection, the most significant risk factor for anal cancer, is essential for prevention and screening strategies.
Methods: In the EVVA Cohort study, 151 WLHIV had cervical and anal HPV testing with genotyping every 6 months for 2 years, while demographic and clinical data were collected via questionnaires and chart reviews.
Objectives: Use of illicit substances during sex (chemsex) may increase transmission of HIV and other STIs. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective at preventing HIV transmission, providing an important prevention tool for those who practise chemsex. However, it does not prevent acquisition of other STIs.
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- The study examines changes in the demographics and risk factors of newly diagnosed HIV-positive individuals at a sexual health clinic in Montréal from 1995 to 2019 to improve public health strategies.
- Data collected from 2,612 patients revealed that while the mean age remained stable at 35, the proportion of those diagnosed with advanced HIV infection significantly decreased from 16% in 1995 to 4% in 2019.
- Although men who have sex with men (MSM) originally made up 77% of diagnoses, their share has declined since 2013, and there is an increasing number of patients from HIV-endemic countries, particularly women, who are predominantly heterosexual.
Background: Reducing HIV transmission using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) requires focussing on individuals at high acquisition risk, such as men who have sex with men with a history of nonoccupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP). This study aims to characterize longitudinal trends in PrEP uptake and its determinants among nPEP users in Montréal.
Methods: Eligible attendees at Clinique médicale l'Actuel were recruited prospectively starting in October 2000 (nPEP) and January 2013 (PrEP).
Since 2003, there has been a resurgence of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), a variant of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), among men who have sex with men (MSM) in several urban areas of Europe and North America. LGV infection occurs most often at anal sites causing proctitis. Urethral and oropharyngeal infections are rare.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Use of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV raises concerns about sexually transmitted infection (STI) incidence because of decreased condom use among MSM. This study examines whether PrEP is associated with STIs in the 12 months following PrEP prescription relative to the 12 months prior to PrEP and if STI rates are higher among PrEP users relative to individuals receiving postexposure prophylaxis (PEP).
Design: Retrospective cohort study including PrEP users with more than 12 months of follow-up before PrEP prescription and individuals receiving PEP from 2010 to 2015 at Clinique l'Actuel (Montréal, Canada).
Background: The risk of anal cancer due to high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is higher in women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) than in the general population. We present findings of cervical and anal HPV and cytologic tests at baseline in the EVVA cohort study and HPV persistence data 6 months after baseline.
Methods: Semiannual visits included questionnaires, chart reviews, cervical/anal cytologic and cervical/anal HPV testing for 2 years.
Background: There is limited evidence on the efficacy of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for sexual exposures. We sought to determine the factors associated with adherence to treatment and describe the incidence of PEP failures in a Montreal clinic.
Methods: We prospectively assessed all patients consulting for PEP following sexual exposures from October 2000 to July 2014.
Introduction: Many studies have shown the superiority of single tablet regimens (STRs) of antiretrovirals for the treatment of HIV in terms of efficacy, adherence and rate of hospitalisation as they offer a low pill burden and once daily dosing. Our objective was to compare the duration of first-line STRs to multi-tablet regimens.
Methods: From our clinical database, we selected patients initiating any of the major first-line regimens between 2007 and 2013.