Missed Opportunities to Prescribe HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis by Primary Care Providers in Saint Louis, Missouri.

PURPOSE: Optimal HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) scale-up in the United States requires prescribing by primary care providers (PCPs). We assessed barriers to patients obtaining PrEP from their PCPs. METHODS: Patients seeking PrEP at an Infectious Diseases (ID) Clinic in St. Louis, Missouri from 2014 to 2016 were asked about demographics, sexual behaviors, whether PrEP was initially sought from their PCP, and barriers to obtaining PrEP from their PCP. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify predictors for having asked a PCP for PrEP. RESULTS: Among 102 patients, the median age was 29 years, 58% were white, and 88% were men who have sex with men. Most (65%) had a PCP and, of these, 48% had asked their PCP for PrEP, but were not prescribed it. About half (52%) reported that their PCPs perceived prescribing PrEP as specialty care. Many (39%) indicated that they felt uncomfortable discussing their sexual behaviors with their PCP. Patients with an HIV-positive sex partner in the last 3 months were less likely to ask for PrEP from their PCPs than others (Adjusted Odds Ratio: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.01-0.53). Eighty-three percent of patients were referred to a new PCP with whom they could feel more comfortable discussing PrEP. CONCLUSIONS: During initial PrEP implementation, ID specialists can play an important role in providing education and linking PrEP patients to PCPs. However, PCPs may need additional training about PrEP and how to provide culturally sensitive sexual healthcare, if widespread scale-up is to be effective in decreasing HIV incidence.

Sex Venue-Based Network Analysis to Identify HIV Prevention Dissemination Targets for Men Who Have Sex with Men.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify sex venue-based networks among men who have sex with men (MSM) to inform HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) dissemination efforts. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, we interviewed MSM about the venues where their recent sexual partners were found. Venues were organized into network matrices grouped by condom use and race. We examined network structure, central venues, and network subgroups. RESULTS: Among 49 participants, the median age was 27 years, 49% were Black and 86% reported condomless anal sex (ncAS). Analysis revealed a map of 54 virtual and physical venues with an overlap in the ncAS and with condom anal sex (cAS) venues. In the ncAS network, virtual and physical locations were more interconnected. The ncAS venues reported by Blacks were more diffusely organized than those reported by Whites. CONCLUSION: The network structures of sex venues for at-risk MSM differed by race. Network information can enhance HIV prevention dissemination efforts among subpopulations, including PrEP implementation.

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate as pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention in women with osteoporosis: a case report and review of the literature.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), using tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), can effectively prevent HIV acquisition. However, TDF can cause changes in bone mineral density (BMD). There is little information on the use of PrEP among patients with bone disease. We present a case report of a female with pre-existing osteoporosis who was prescribed PrEP. Over the course of 9 months of consistent PrEP use, verified by dried blood spot testing, we report a lack of BMD changes on serial dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry scans in this patient. This case can inform PrEP care for patients with pre-existing bone disease.

Impact of insurance coverage on utilization of pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can reduce U.S. HIV incidence. We assessed insurance coverage and its association with PrEP utilization. We reviewed patient data at three PrEP clinics (Jackson, Mississippi; St. Louis, Missouri; Providence, Rhode Island) from 2014-2015. The outcome, PrEP utilization, was defined as patient PrEP use at three months. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the association between insurance coverage and PrEP utilization. Of 201 patients (Jackson: 34%; St. Louis: 28%; Providence: 28%), 91% were male, 51% were White, median age was 29 years, and 21% were uninsured; 82% of patients reported taking PrEP at three months. Insurance coverage was significantly associated with PrEP utilization. After adjusting for Medicaid-expansion and individual socio-demographics, insured patients were four times as likely to use PrEP services compared to the uninsured (OR: 4.49, 95% CI: 1.68-12.01; p = 0.003). Disparities in insurance coverage are important considerations in implementation programs and may impede PrEP utilization.