Purpose Of Review: The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) as a strategy to prevent the transmission of HIV infection is of substantial international interest. Injection drug users (IDUs) are an important population with respect to HIV treatment as prevention because they are often less likely to access HAART in comparison with other risk groups.
Recent Findings: A recent multicentre randomized clinical trial demonstrated a 96% reduction in HIV transmission among heterosexual serodiscordant couples prescribed early HAART. Consistent with these results, independent observational studies from Baltimore and Vancouver have demonstrated that population level rates of HAART use among IDUs are associated with reduced rates of HIV incidence. In addition, impact assessments of HAART delivery to IDUs have generally demonstrated no negative effects of HAART use on rates of unsafe sex or syringe sharing.
Summary: HAART prevents HIV transmission because it dramatically decreases HIV-1 RNA levels in biological fluids. This is relevant to vertical and sexual HIV transmission and also to blood-borne HIV transmission, as it is often the case among IDUs. Efforts to expand HAART to IDUs should be redoubled in an effort to realize both the individual and public health benefits of HAART.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/COH.0b013e32834f9927 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Tuberculosis and people who use drugs: why focus on this overlooked population is important and why adapted interventions are necessary.
Lancet Glob Health
January 2025
Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic and Emerging Infections, University of Montpellier, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Montpellier, France. Electronic address:
People who use drugs show a higher incidence and prevalence of tuberculosis than people who do not use drugs in areas where Mycobacterium tuberculosis is endemic. However, this population is largely neglected in national tuberculosis programmes. Strategies for active case finding, screening, and linkage to care designed for the general population are not adapted to the needs of people who use drugs, who are stigmatised and difficult to reach.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrevalence and risk factors evaluation for transfusion-transmissible infections among blood donors from Shiyan, China.
Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis
January 2025
Department of Human Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Science, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China. Electronic address:
Objective: Transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) are severe threats to blood safety and public health. A retrospective study of blood donor records from 2015 to 2019 in Shiyan, China, was conducted.
Methods: TTI prevalence was analyzed using ELISA, RT-PCR, and demographic data.
'It is scary to pause treatment': perspectives on HIV cure-related research and analytical treatment interruptions from women diagnosed during acute HIV in Durban, South Africa.
HIV Res Clin Pract
December 2025
Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), La Jolla, CA, USA.
Background: HIV remains a major challenge in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, particularly for young women who face disproportionate risks and barriers to prevention and treatment. Most HIV cure trials, however, occur in high-income countries.
Objective: To examine the perspectives of young women diagnosed with acute HIV in a longitudinal study, focusing on their perceptions on ATI-inclusive HIV cure trials and the barriers and facilitators to participation.
Comparative Analyses of Antiviral Potencies of Second-Generation Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors (INSTIs) and the Developmental Compound 4d Against a Panel of Integrase Quadruple Mutants.
Viruses
January 2025
Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
Second-generation integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are strongly recommended for people living with HIV-1 (PLWH). The emergence of resistance to second-generation INSTIs has been infrequent and has not yet been a major issue in high-income countries. However, the delayed rollouts of these INSTIs in low- to middle-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic combined with increased transmission of drug-resistant mutants worldwide are leading to an increase in INSTI resistance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRecent Advances in Our Understanding of Human Inflammatory Dendritic Cells in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.
Viruses
January 2025
Centre for Virus Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead 2145, Australia.
Anogenital inflammation is a critical risk factor for HIV acquisition. The primary preventative HIV intervention, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), is ineffective in blocking transmission in anogenital inflammation. Pre-existing sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) and anogenital microbiota dysbiosis are the leading causes of inflammation, where inflammation is extensive and often asymptomatic and undiagnosed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!