PrEP Persistence Support and Monitoring in Areas of High HIV Burden in the Midwestern United States.

Monitoring pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) metrics can guide service delivery yet does not occur routinely. We developed a survey to understand current practices for monitoring PrEP at PrEP-providing organizations in Illinois and Missouri. The survey was distributed from September through November 2020; 26 organizations participated.

Provider Perspectives on Factors Affecting the PrEP Care Continuum Among Black Cisgender Women in the Midwest United States: Applying the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

Background: To End the HIV Epidemic and reduce the number of incident HIV infections in the United States by 90%, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake and persistence among cisgender women, particularly racial and ethnic minority women, must be increased. Medical providers play a pivotal role across the PrEP care continuum.

Methods: In this qualitative study, guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, we explored health care provider perspectives on facilitators and barriers to PrEP implementation strategies for Black cisgender women in the Midwest United States.

HIV Response Interventions that Integrate HIV Molecular Cluster and Social Network Analysis: A Systematic Review.

Due to improved efficiency and reduced cost of viral sequencing, molecular cluster analysis can be feasibly utilized alongside existing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention strategies. The goal of this paper is to elucidate how HIV molecular cluster and social network analyses are being integrated to implement HIV response interventions. We searched PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library databases for studies incorporating both HIV molecular cluster and social network data.

HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Use and Persistence among Black Ciswomen: "Women Need to Protect Themselves, Period".

Background: Disparities in HIV incidence and PrEP use among Black ciswomen remain. We examine factors associated with PrEP persistence using mixed methods.

Setting: Black ciswomen in Chicago, IL, prescribed PrEP at a federally qualified health center (FQHC).

Natural Language Processing of Clinical Notes to Identify Mental Illness and Substance Use Among People Living with HIV: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Mental illness and substance use are prevalent among people living with HIV and often lead to poor health outcomes. Electronic medical record (EMR) data are increasingly being utilized for HIV-related clinical research and care, but mental illness and substance use are often underdocumented in structured EMR fields. Natural language processing (NLP) of unstructured text of clinical notes in the EMR may more accurately identify mental illness and substance use among people living with HIV than structured EMR fields alone.

A Case Series of Five People Living with HIV Hospitalized with COVID-19 in Chicago, Illinois.

The risk of COVID-19 among people living with HIV (PLWH) is largely unknown and there have been very few reported cases in the literature. We report a case series of five PLWH with COVID-19. We identified all patients with a diagnosis of HIV who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 at University of Chicago Medicine between March 1, 2020, and April 7, 2020.

Epidemiology and Treatment of Hepatitis B in Prisoners.

Purpose Of Review: The review details recent literature reports regarding Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and, in particular, Hepatitis B prevalence/incidence in incarcerated populations around the world. Furthermore, the review will summarize the national/international guidelines regarding HBV and look at diagnosis, vaccination, treatment, and linkage to care after release.

Recent Findings: HBV affects prisoners at a much higher rate than the general populations.

Insurance Coverage and Utilization at a Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic in a Medicaid Expansion State.

Background: In Rhode Island, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has led to over 95% of the state's population being insured. We evaluated insurance coverage and barriers to insurance use among patients presenting for services at the Rhode Island sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic.

Methods: We analyzed factors associated with insurance coverage and utilization among patients presenting for STD services between July and December 2015.