Early Diagnosis and Linkage to Care: an Experience over 14 years of Point of Care Rapid HIV Testing.

Point-of-care rapid testing is one of the strategies to increase HIV screening. We present data on over 14 years of the "EASY Test Program", an ongoing cross-sectional collaborative project that provides free and anonymous rapid HIV testing in the metropolitan city of Milan, Italy. Overall, 22,186 HIV tests were performed, with a 0.

Burden of Disease in PWH Harboring a Multidrug-Resistant Virus: Data From the PRESTIGIO Registry.

Background: Currently, no data are available on the burden of morbidity and mortality in people with HIV-1 (PWH) harboring a 4-class drug-resistant (4DR) virus (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, integrase strand transfer inhibitors). The study aimed to assess the incidence of clinical events and death in this population.

Methods: This was a cohort study on PWH from the PRESTIGIO Registry with a documented 4DR virus.

Point-of-care testing for hepatitis C virus infection at an Italian dental clinic: portrait of the pilot study population.

The dental clinic is an appropriate place to promote the prevention of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and fast access for care of HCV-positive subjects with new-generation anti-HCV drugs. This study aimed to determine the socio-demographic profile of subjects screened for HCV virus in a dental clinic to acquire useful information for future campaigns of prevention. An easy, free-of-charge, screen salivary test was offered to patients referred to the dental clinic of San Raffaele Scientific Research Hospital in Milan, Italy for dental procedures.

Point-of-care testing for hepatitis C virus infection at alternative and high-risk sites: an Italian pilot study in a dental clinic.

The Infectious Diseases Department and the Department of Dentistry of San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milan conducted a screening and prevention program, the "EASY HCV-test Program," at a dental clinic to increase the identification of unrecognized infections. Using a cross-sectional community-based study design, hygienists in the dental clinic offered patients a hepatitis C virus (HCV) rapid salivary test (OraQuick ADVANCE® Rapid HCV Antibody Test) with pre- and post-test counseling prior to initiation of their oral hygiene routine. From April 2015 to November 2015, the EASY HCV test was offered to 2650 patients visiting the Center of Oral Health and Prevention at the Department of Dentistry at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan.

Early diagnosis and retention in care of HIV-infected patients through rapid salivary testing: a test-and-treat fast track pilot study.

Aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the retention-in-care of individuals diagnosed during six years of salivary HIV testing (EASY-test project). Among those linked-to-care at the Infectious Diseases Department of San Raffaele Hospital (Milan, Italy), the proportion of patients engaged, retained in care and virologically suppressed after the antiretroviral treatment was 96%, 100% and 95.2%, respectively.

Early diagnosis and retention in care of HIV-infected patients through rapid salivary testing: a test-and-treat fast track pilot study.

Aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the retention-in-care of individuals diagnosed during six years of salivary HIV testing (EASY-test project). Among those linked-to-care at the Infectious Diseases Department of San Raffaele Hospital (Milan, Italy), the proportion of patients engaged, retained in care and virologically suppressed after the antiretroviral treatment was 96%, 100% and 95.2%, respectively.

Point-of-care testing for HCV infection: recent advances and implications for alternative screening.

Over the last few years, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has emerged as one of the most significant causes of chronic liver disease worldwide, with an estimated prevalence ranging from 2.2 to 3.0%.

Cross-sectional study of community serostatus to highlight undiagnosed HIV infections with oral fluid HIV-1/2 rapid test in non-conventional settings.

The submerged portion of undiagnosed HIV infection in Italy is about 30% of subjects found seropositive. This fact represents one of the most important public health problems hindering the control of infection progression. This means we need to fight unawareness and social stigma and promote easy and friendly access to HIV test.

Cervical human papillomavirus infection and shedding of human immunodeficiency virus in cervicovaginal fluids: a cross-sectional study.

We evaluated the association between human papillomavirus cervical infection and HIV shedding in cervicovaginal lavage fluid (CVL), studying 89 HIV-infected women recruited at the Department of Infectious Diseases of Brescia (Italy). HIV shedding in CVL was found in a similar proportion of women with (30%; 21/70) and without (31.6%; 6/19) cervical human papillomavirus infection.

The prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in Mombasa, Kenya.

Objectives: A human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence survey was done in Mombasa, Kenya, to improve the knowledge of HPV prevalence and genotype distribution in sub-Saharan African countries overall, and in women of different ages.

Methods: HPV prevalence was assessed using PCR in women older than 15 years attending family planning and mother-child care services.

Results: Among 496 women, HPV prevalence was high (42.

Offer of rapid testing and alternative biological samples as practical tools to implement HIV screening programs.

Implementation of HIV testing has the objective to increase screening, identify and counsel persons with infection, link them to clinical services and reduce transmission. Rapid tests and/or alternative biological samples (like oral fluid) give the option for a better general consent in approaching screening, immediate referral of HIV positives to medical treatment and partner notification. We tested the performance characteristics of an oral fluid-based rapid HIV test (Rapidtest HIV lateral flow-Healthchem diag.