A retrospective study of the clinical features of new syphilis infections in an HIV-positive cohort in Alberta, Canada.

Objectives: Syphilis is a global health concern with an estimated 12 million infections occurring annually. Due to the increasing rates of new syphilis infections being reported in patients infected with HIV, and their higher risk for atypical and severe presentations, periodic screening has been recommended as a routine component of HIV care. We aimed to characterise incident syphilis presentation, serological features and treatment response in a well-defined, HIV-infected population over 11 years.

Increasing incidence of syphilis among patients engaged in HIV care in Alberta, Canada: a retrospective clinic-based cohort study.

Background: Syphilis is a global health concern disproportionately affecting HIV-infected populations. In Alberta, Canada, the incidence of syphilis in the general population has recently doubled with 25% of these infections occurring in HIV-infected patients. The Southern Alberta HIV Clinic (SAC) and Calgary STI Program (CSTI) analyzed the epidemiologic characteristics of incident syphilis infections in our well-defined, HIV-infected population over 11 years.

Reporting on the prevalence of antiretroviral drug resistance in a regional HIV population over 20 years: a word of caution.

Background: Failure to achieve complete viral suppression with antiretroviral drugs (ARV) may lead to uncontrolled HIV replication, ARV resistance and negative outcomes. Monitoring and reporting of HIV resistance trends is important but problematic. We examined prevalent resistance rates in an HIV population over 20 years and document how rates may appear to vary greatly based solely on which parameters are utilized.