Plasma Tenofovir Levels to Support Adherence to TDF/FTC Preexposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention in MSM in Los Angeles, California.

BACKGROUND: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective against HIV acquisition when taken as prescribed. Strategies that identify and intervene with those challenged by adherence to daily medication are needed. SETTING: PATH-PrEP was an open-label single-arm interventional cohort study conducted at 2 community-based clinical sites in Los Angeles, CA. METHODS: We enrolled self-identified men who have sex with men and transgender women ≥18 years of age at an elevated risk of HIV acquisition. Participants received a postexposure prophylaxis (PEP)-based or PrEP-based HIV prevention package for at least 48 weeks. Plasma tenofovir levels from each PrEP visit assessed as below the limit of quantitation (<10 ng/mL) triggered increased adherence support. RESULTS: Three hundred one participants enrolled. Forty-eight-week retention in the PrEP cohort was 75.1%. Biomarker evidence of PrEP adherence consistent with ≥4 doses per week at weeks 4, 12, 24, 36, and 48 was found in 83.1%, 83.4%, 75.7%, 71.6%, and 65.5% of participants, respectively; younger and African American participants were less likely to have protective drug levels. Most of those with suboptimal adherence had adherence improvement after brief intervention. One seroconversion occurred in a participant who discontinued PrEP. Nearly half (46.4%) of participants were diagnosed with at least 1 incident sexually transmitted infection during 48 weeks of study follow-up. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: PrEP was acceptable and well tolerated in a diverse population of men who have sex with men in Los Angeles. A brief intervention triggered from biomarkers of poor adherence was associated with improved adherence. Drug level monitoring has the potential to allow targeting of additional adherence support to those struggling with daily tablet adherence.

Design and Implementation of a Community Health Worker HIV Treatment and Prevention Intervention in an HIV Hot Spot Fishing Community in Rakai, Uganda.

Innovative approaches are needed to increase engagement in HIV treatment and prevention services, particularly in HIV hot spots. Here, we detail our design, training approach, and early implementation experiences of a community-based HIV intervention called "health scouts." The intervention, utilizing a novel, theory-based approach, trained 10 community residents in an HIV hot spot fishing community to use motivational interviewing strategies and a mobile phone-based counseling application. During the first 3 months, 771 residents (median 82/health scout, range 27-160) were counseled. A directly observed Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity scale-based evaluation found adequate performance (median score 20/25, range 11-23). The health scout intervention was feasible to implement in a high HIV-prevalence fishing community, and its impact on HIV care outcomes will be evaluated in an ongoing cluster randomized trial. If found to be effective, it may be an important strategy for responding to HIV in high-burden settings.

Effects of depression and anxiety on antiretroviral therapy adherence among newly diagnosed HIV-infected Chinese MSM.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to explore the effect of depression and anxiety on adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among MSM with newly diagnosed HIV infections. DESIGN: We conducted a prospective study of Chinese MSM with newly diagnosed HIV infections. METHODS: The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to measure depression and anxiety at baseline, 6 and 12 months, separately. ART adherence was self-reported once every 3 months ('perfect' or no missing dose in the past 3 months vs. 'imperfect' adherence or at least one missing dose in the past 3 months). We utilized a priori substantial knowledge guided by causal models to identify confounding covariates, and performed mixed-effect logistic regression to assess the effects of depression and anxiety on ART adherence. RESULTS: We included 228 participants who initiated ART after HIV diagnosis and before the end of study. A one-unit increase in the depression and anxiety score was associated with a 16% increase [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.16; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02-1.32] and a 17% increase (aOR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.03-1.33) in the odds of reporting imperfect ART adherence, respectively. When depression and anxiety were categorized (normal, borderline, and likely), only likely anxiety had a significant association with imperfect ART adherence (aOR, 4.79; 95% CI, 1.12-20.50). CONCLUSION: Depression and anxiety are risk factors for imperfect ART adherence among Chinese MSM with newly diagnosed HIV infections. Intensive intervention on depression and/or anxiety beyond regular post-HIV-testing counseling may increase adherence to ART, and improve HIV treatment outcomes.