Comparing the long-term effectiveness and safety of dolutegravir/lamivudine versus bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide fumarate as first-line regimens: a real life multicentre cohort.

Objectives: We compared the effectiveness and safety of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (BIC/FTC/TAF) and dolutegravir plus lamivudine (DTG + 3TC) in our cohort of treatment-naive people with HIV (PWH).

Methods: In a multicentre cohort of treatment-naive PWH starting a first-line regimen with either dolutegravir plus lamivudine or BIC/FTC/TAF, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to estimate time to virological failure (VF) and time to treatment discontinuation (TD), whereas Cox regression was used to evaluate predictors of VF and TD. Changes in CD4+ cell count were assessed via non-parametric tests, and linear regression analyses were performed to explore predictors of CD4+ cell count changes.

Clinical and laboratory predictors of mpox severity and duration: an Italian multicentre cohort study (mpox-Icona).

Background: Severe and prolonged mpox courses have been described during the 2022-2023 outbreak. Identifying predictors of severe evolution is crucial for improving management and therapeutic strategies. We explored the predictors of mpox severity and tested the association between mpox severity and viral load in biological fluids.

Anal HPV prevalence in individuals with and without other concomitant sexually transmitted infections.

The association between human papillomavirus (HPV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in anal lesions still remains unclear. Aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of simultaneous infection of HPV and Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium, and Trichomonas vaginalis in individuals screened for HPV anal infection. A total of 507 anal samples were tested for both anal HPV and STIs: 16% resulted positive for one or more non-HPV STIs.

Breakthrough Acute HIV Infections among Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Users with High Adherence: A Narrative Review.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a pivotal intervention among HIV prevention strategies. We aimed to narratively revise the topic of HIV acute infection in the setting of PrEP exposure with a focus on diagnostic options, clinical features, and future PrEP perspectives, with a particular focus on users with high adherence to PrEP. We searched the main databases (PubMed, Embase, and Scopus) with the keywords "PrEP" or "Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis" and "HIV" or "PLWH" and "breakthrough" or "acute infection" or "primary infection".

Evaluation of analytical performance of the STANDARD M10 MPX/OPX assay for the simultaneous DNA detection and clade attribution of .

(MPXV) infection confirmation needs reliable polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays; in addition, viral clade attribution is a key factor in containment measures, considering a more severe syndrome in clade I and the possibility of simultaneous circulation. This study evaluates the performance of all-in-one STANDARD M10 MPX/OPX (SD BIOSENSOR, South Korea - M10). Frozen samples from 205 subjects were selected and stratified according to routine test results (RealStar® Orthopoxvirus PCR Kit 1.

Dynamics of viral DNA shedding and culture viral DNA positivity in different clinical samples collected during the 2022 mpox outbreak in Lombardy, Italy.

Background: Mpox virus (MPXV) has recently spread outside of sub-Saharan Africa. This large multicentre study was conducted in Lombardy, the most densely populated Italian region accounting for more than 40% of Italian cases. The present study aims to: i) evaluate the presence and the shedding duration of MPXV DNA in different body compartments correlating the MPXV viability with the time to onset of symptoms; ii) provide evidence of MPXV persistence in different body compartment as a source of infection and iii) characterize the MPXV evolution by whole genome sequencing (WGS) during the outbreak occurred in Italy.

Rilpivirine and cabotegravir trough concentrations in people with HIV on long-term treatment with long-acting injectable antiretrovirals.

Objective: Large inter-individual variability in the pharmacokinetics of rilpivirine and cabotegravir has been reported in the first weeks after starting long-acting injectable (LAI) therapy. Here, we assessed the distribution of rilpivirine and cabotegravir trough concentrations in people with HIV (PWH) on long-term LAI treatment.

Methods: Adult PWH treated with LAI for at least 32 weeks with an assessment of drug plasma trough concentrations were considered.

Do we Still Need Eligibility Criteria to Recommend PrEP? Impact of National Prescribing Requirements on Retention in Care and Sexually Transmitted Infections Acquisition.

Italian guidelines recommend HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) only upon satisfying strict eligibility criteria. The objective of this study is to evaluate if PrEP candidates attending a community-based service comply with these criteria and whether these prescribing conditions affect retention in care and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) acquisition. A retrospective analysis was performed on PrEP candidates evaluated from January 2019 to June 2022.

Human monkeypox virus infection in women and non-binary individuals during the 2022 outbreaks: a global case series.

Background: Between May and November, 2022, global outbreaks of human monkeypox virus infection have been reported in more than 78 000 people worldwide, predominantly in men who have sex with men. We describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of monkeypox virus infection in cisgender (cis) and transgender (trans) women and non-binary individuals assigned female sex at birth to improve identification and understanding of risk factors.

Methods: International collaborators in geographical locations with high numbers of diagnoses of monkeypox virus infection were approached and invited to contribute data on women and non-binary individuals with confirmed monkeypox virus infection.