Epidemiological impact of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis screening in men having sex with men: a modelling study.

OBJECTIVES: The impact of the systematic screening of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) in men having sex with men (MSM) on these pathogens' epidemiology remains unclear. We conducted a modelling study to analyse this impact in French MSM. METHODS: We modelled NG and CT transmission using a site-specific deterministic compartmental model. We calibrated NG and CT prevalence at baseline using results from MSM enrolled in the Dat'AIDS cohort. The baseline scenario was based on 1 million MSM, 40 000 of whom were tested every 90 days and 960 000 every 200 days. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) at steady state were simulated for NG, CT, NG and/or CT infections, for different combinations of tested sites, testing frequency and numbers of frequently tested patients. RESULTS: The observed prevalence rate was 11.0%, 10.5% and 19.1% for NG, CT and NG and/or CT infections. The baseline incidence rate was estimated at 138.2 per year per 100 individuals (/100PY), 86.8/100PY and 225.0/100PY for NG, CT and NG and/or CT infections. Systematically testing anal, pharyngeal and urethral sites at the same time reduced incidence by 14%, 23% and 18% (IRR: 0.86, 0.77 and 0.82) for NG, CT and NG and/or CT infections. Reducing the screening interval to 60 days in frequently tested patients reduced incidence by 20%, 29% and 24% (IRR: 0.80, 0.71 and 0.76) for NG, CT and NG and/or CT infections. Increasing the number of frequently tested patients to 200 000 reduced incidence by 29%, 40% and 33% (IRR: 0.71, 0.60 and 0.67) for NG, CT and NG and/or CT infections. No realistic scenario could decrease pathogens' incidence by more than 50%. CONCLUSIONS: To curb the epidemic of NG and CT in MSM, it would not only be necessary to drastically increase screening, but also to add other combined interventions.

Effectiveness and safety of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir for 8 weeks in the treatment of patients with acute hepatitis C: A single-arm retrospective study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: No direct-acting antiviral is currently approved for acute HCV infection, delaying treatment. We investigated the effectiveness and safety of 8-week glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (G/P) in patients with acute HCV infection. APPROACH AND RESULTS: This noninterventional, single-arm, retrospective chart review was designed to enroll adults/adolescents with acute HCV infection. Analyses were conducted on a full analysis set (FAS; all enrolled) and modified FAS (FAS excluding nonvirologic failures). The primary end point (modified FAS) was sustained virologic response at posttreatment week 12 (SVR12) with superiority to 92.6% threshold determined by historic chronic HCV G/P SVR12 rates. Secondary end points (FAS) included SVR12, on-treatment virologic failure, posttreatment relapse, and reinfection. Adverse events and safety laboratory values were assessed.Overall, 202 adults were enrolled; in the modified FAS, 150/151 (99.3%; 95% CI: 96.3-99.9) achieved SVR12, demonstrating superiority to efficacy threshold. In the FAS, the SVR12 rate was 74.3% and the on-treatment virologic failure rate was 0%. Relapse and reinfection rates after the final treatment visit (FAS) were 0.5% and 3%, respectively; 39 patients had missing SVR12 data. No on-treatment alanine aminotransferase elevations > 3 × upper limit of normal with total bilirubin > 2 × upper limit of normal were reported. All 53 patients with alanine aminotransferase Grade ≥ 2 at baseline improved to Grade 0/1 on treatment. No adverse eventss of hepatic decompensation/failure or leading to G/P discontinuation occurred. Two patients had serious adverse events unrelated to G/P. CONCLUSIONS: Eight-week G/P therapy was effective and well-tolerated in patients with acute HCV infection. Data support further investigation of G/P in acute HCV to shorten care cascades, reduce transmission, and support HCV elimination.

Hepatitis A and B vaccine uptake and immunisation among men who have sex with men seeking PrEP: a substudy of the ANRS IPERGAY trial.

Vaccination against hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) is recommended in men who have sex with men (MSM). We assessed HAV and HBV vaccine uptake in the non-immune participants and their immunisation during follow-up of the ANRS IPERGAY (Intervention Préventive de l'Exposition aux Risques avec et pour les Gays) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) trial.During the ANRS IPERGAY trial among MSM (NCT01473472), vaccination against HAV and HBV was offered free of charge to all non-immune participants at baseline. We assessed anti-HAV IgGs and anti-hepatitis B surface (HBs) antibodies (Abs) at baseline, 1-3 months after each vaccine dose and on the last follow-up visit. Vaccination uptake and immunisation were analysed in non-immune participants with at least 6 months of follow-up after the 1st vaccine dose.A total of 427 MSM with a median age of 34.8 years were analysed. Median follow-up was 2.2 years (Q1-Q3, 1.6-2.9). Absence of anti-HAV IgG at baseline (50.4%, 215/427) was associated with younger age (p=0.0001). Among HAV non-immune participants, 96.1% (197/205) received one or more vaccine doses and 91.0% (172/189) received two vaccine doses. Among HBV non-immune participants, 97.6 % (81/83) received one or more vaccine doses and 78.4% (58/74) received three doses. On the last-visit sample, anti-HAV IgG and anti-HBs Abs were respectively detected in 94.8% (95% CI 90.0% to 97.7%) and 79.6% (95% CI 66.5% to 89.4%) of participants with complete vaccination and in 80.0% (95% CI 51.9% to 95.7%) and 40.0% (95% CI 16.3% to 67.7%) of participants with incomplete vaccination.Vaccine acceptability against HAV and HBV infections was very high in MSM starting PrEP. Immunisation was high in participants with a full vaccination scheme. Physicians must consider PrEP visits as major opportunities to propose and complete HAV and HBV vaccination in at-risk non-immune subjects.

Missed opportunities for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among people with recent HIV infection: The French ANRS 95041 OMaPrEP study.

OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to identify missed opportunities for the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in people with recently acquired HIV, factors associated with PrEP knowledge, and reasons for not using PrEP. DESIGN: This was a French national cross-sectional multicentre study enrolling people diagnosed with recent HIV (incomplete Western blot or negative HIV test in the previous 6 months) in 28 HIV clinical centres. Data were gathered using a self-administered questionnaire (SAQ). METHOD: We analysed missed opportunities for PrEP use via a retrospective prep cascade. Factors associated with prior knowledge of PrEP and reasons for PrEP non-use among those who knew about PrEP were described using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: Of the 224 eligible patients, 185 completed the SAQ and 168 (91%) were eligible for PrEP. Of these, 90% reported seeing at least one physician during the previous year, 26% received information about PrEP, and 5% used PrEP. Factors independently associated with a higher probability of knowing about PrEP were being a man who has sex with men, being aged 25-30 years (vs older), undergoing HIV screening at least once every semester (vs less often; odds ratio [OR] 4.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.00-8.45), and practicing chemsex (OR 3.19; 95% CI 1.12-9.10). Fear of side effects and a low perceived risk of HIV infection were the two most common reasons for not using PrEP (N = 40 [33.33%] and N = 34 [28.3%], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We found two gaps in the retrospective PrEP cascade: insufficient provision of PrEP information by healthcare providers (mainly general practitioners) and low PrEP acceptability by informed, eligible patients. More diverse healthcare providers need to be involved in PrEP prescription, and at-risk people need to be sensitized to the risk of HIV infection.

High syphilis prevalence and incidence in people living with HIV and Preexposure Prophylaxis users: A retrospective review in the French Dat'AIDS cohort.

BACKGROUND: In the past years, we observed a sharp increase of Syphilis, especially among male who have sex with male (MSM), either HIV-infected, or on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Our aim was to assess syphilis prevalence and incidence among people living with HIV (PLWH) and PrEP users. METHODS: PLWH were included from 2010 to 2020 and PrEP users from 2016 to 2020 from the Dat'AIDS French cohort. We calculated syphilis prevalence and incidences for first infections, re-infections, and iterative infections (> 2 times). T-Tests, Wilcoxon tests and Chi2 test were used for descriptive analysis and multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for factors associated with syphilis. RESULTS: Among the 8 583 PLWH, prevalence of subject with past or present syphilis was 19.9%. These subjects were more likely MSM or transgender and aged over 35 years, but prevalence was lower in AIDS subjects. Same pattern was seen for incident infection and re-infection. Incidence was 3.8 per 100 person-years for infection and 6.5 per 100 person-years for re-infection. Among 1 680 PrEP users, syphilis prevalence was 25.8%, with an estimated 7.2% frequency of active syphilis. Risk of syphilis infection was higher in male and increased with age. Incidence was 11.2 per 100 person-years for infection and 11.1 per 100 person-years for re-infection. CONCLUSION: Syphilis prevalence and incidence were high, especially in older MSM with controlled HIV infection and PrEP users, enhancing the need to improve syphilis screening and behavioral risk reduction counseling among high-risk subjects.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in patients with immunovirological control and at least 6 months of combination antiretroviral therapy.

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: : Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) has rarely been reported in people with HIV (PWH) with long-term HIV immune-virological control. We describe the clinical and biological characteristics of patients with confirmed PML among PWH with a CD4+ cell count more than 200 cells/µl and an undetectable HIV RNA viral load after at least 6 months of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) at the time of PML diagnosis, in the large French multicenter Dat'AIDS cohort. RESULTS: : Among 571 diagnoses of PML reported in the Dat'AIDS cohort between 2000 and 2019, 10 cases (1.75%) occurred in PWH with a CD4+ cell count greater than 200 cells/µl and an undetectable HIV RNA viral load after at least 6 months of cART. Median CD4+ cell count at PML diagnosis was 395 cells/µl (IQR 310-477). The median duration between the last detectable HIV viral load and the PML diagnosis was 41.1 months (IQR 8.2-67.4). Only one patient treated with rituximab-based chemotherapy for a large B-cell lymphoma had an established risk factor for PML. Among the nine other patients with no apparent severe immunodeficiency, multiple factors of impaired immunity could have led to the development of PML: hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection (n = 6), cirrhosis (n = 4), HHV-8 co-infection (n = 3) with Kaposi's sarcoma (n = 2) in association with Castleman's disease (n = 1) and indolent IgA multiple myeloma (n = 1). CONCLUSION: : This study highlights that factors other than low CD4+ cell count and high HIV viral load may be associated with the occurrence of PML. Further studies are warranted to investigate in greater detail the immunologic characteristics of PWH with immune-virological control who develop PML.

Outcomes of post-exposure vaccination by modified vaccinia Ankara to prevent mpox (formerly monkeypox): a retrospective observational study in Lyon, France, June to August 2022.

Modified vaccinia virus Ankara vaccine (MVA-BN; Bavarian Nordic) is recommended to contacts of mpox cases up to 14 days post-exposure but the effectiveness of this strategy is unknown. Among 108 adults (≥ 18 years old) who received one dose of MVA-BN after exposure to mpox, 11 (10%) cases of breakthrough mpox were observed. Sexual exposure was associated with the risk of breakthrough mpox (p = 0.0179). Samples taken from vaccinated breakthrough mpox cases had similar rates of infectious virus isolation than unvaccinated mpox cases.

Quantifying transmission dynamics of acute hepatitis C virus infections in a heterogeneous population using sequence data.

Opioid substitution and syringes exchange programs have drastically reduced hepatitis C virus (HCV) spread in France but HCV sexual transmission in men having sex with men (MSM) has recently arisen as a significant public health concern. The fact that the virus is transmitting in a heterogeneous population, with different transmission routes, makes prevalence and incidence rates poorly informative. However, additional insights can be gained by analyzing virus phylogenies inferred from dated genetic sequence data. By combining a phylodynamics approach based on Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) and an original transmission model, we estimate key epidemiological parameters of an ongoing HCV epidemic among MSMs in Lyon (France). We show that this new epidemic is largely independent of the previously observed non-MSM HCV epidemics and that its doubling time is ten times lower (0.44 years versus 4.37 years). These results have practical implications for HCV control and illustrate the additional information provided by virus genomics in public health.

Estimated pill intake with on-demand PrEP with oral TDF/FTC using TFV-DP concentration in dried blood spots in the ANRS IPERGAY trial.

BACKGROUND: Tenofovir diphosphate (TFV-DP) concentration in dried blood spots (DBSs) is a reliable pharmacokinetics biomarker of adherence to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). We aimed to use DBSs to estimate pill intake among participants using on-demand pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and to identify predictive factors associated with higher TFV-DP concentrations. METHODS: DBSs were collected at the last study visit of the open-label phase of the ANRS IPERGAY study, assessing on-demand oral TDF/emtricitabine for PrEP among MSM and transgender female participants. We quantified TFV-DP in DBSs centrally. We assessed correlation between pill count and TFV-DP concentration by Spearman correlation and explored associations between participant demographics, sexual behaviour and PrEP use during sexual intercourse (SI) with TFV-DP concentrations by univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: The median age of the 245 participants included in this study was 40 years, with a median body weight of 73 kg. Median (IQR) TFV-DP concentration reached 517 (128-868) fmol/punch, corresponding to an estimated intake of 8-12 tablets per month (2-3 doses per week). Only 39% of participants had a TFV-DP concentration above 700 fmol/punch. TFV-DP concentrations were moderately correlated with pill count (r: 0.59; P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, only systematic use of PrEP during SI and more frequent episodes of SI in the past 4 weeks were significantly associated with higher TFV-DP levels [OR (95% CI): 11.30 (3.62-35.33) and 1.46 (1.19-1.79), respectively; P < 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Among participants using on-demand PrEP, estimated pill intake reached 8-12 tablets per month and was correlated with frequency and systematic use of PrEP for SI.

Forgiveness of Dolutegravir-Based Triple Therapy Compared With Older Antiretroviral Regimens: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort of Adherence Patterns and HIV-RNA Replication.

BACKGROUND: For many people with HIV (PWH), taking antiretroviral therapy (ARV) every day is difficult. METHODS: Average adherence (Av-Adh) and log-transformed treatment interruption (TI) to ARV were prospectively measured over 6 months using electronic drug monitoring (EDM) in several cohorts of PWH. Multivariate linear regression models including baseline confounders explored the influence of EDM-defined adherence (R 2) on 6-month log10 HIV-RNA. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to compare the risk of HIV-RNA detection (VR) within subgroups stratified by lower (≤95%) and higher (>95%) Av-Adh. RESULTS: Three hundred ninety-nine PWH were analyzed with different ARVs: dolutegravir (n = 102), raltegravir (n = 90), boosted PI (bPI; n = 107), and NNRTI (n = 100). In the dolutegravir group, the influence of adherence pattern measures on R 2 for HIV-RNA levels was marginal (+2%). Av-Adh, TI, and Av-Adh × TI increased the R 2 for HIV-RNA levels by 54% and 40% in the raltegravir and bPI treatment groups, respectively. TI increased the R 2 for HIV-RNA levels by 36% in the NNRTI treatment group. Compared with the dolutegravir-based regimen, the risk of VR was significantly increased for raltegravir (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 45.6; 95% CI, 4.5-462.1; P = .001), NNRTIs (aOR, 24.8; 95% CI, 2.7-228.4; P = .005), and bPIs (aOR, 28.3; 95% CI, 3.4-239.4; P = .002) in PWH with Av-Adh ≤95%. Among PWH with >95% Av-Adh, there were no significant differences in the risk of VR among the different ARVs. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the concept that dolutegravir in combination with 2 other active ARVs achieves greater virological suppression than older ARVs, including raltegravir, NNRTI, and bPI, among PWH with lower adherence.

Inflammatory Markers During Early Treatment of Seroconverters in a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of PrEP (ANRS-IPERGAY).

HIV-related inflammation is associated with poor outcomes. We describe inflammatory biomarkers in 17 participants in a pre-exposure prophylaxis trial who seroconverted with very early initiation of antiretroviral therapy. Inflammation peaked at the time of HIV infection and returned to baseline within 6-12 months. Starting antiretroviral therapy very early could help mitigate long-lasting HIV-related inflammation.

No barrier to care, yet disparities in the HIV care continuum in France: a nationwide population study.

OBJECTIVES: Even in an 'optimal' health system, patients' characteristics may have an impact on their care. We investigated whether age, gender and place of birth have an impact in the HIV care continuum in France, a country with a universal free healthcare system. METHODS: We estimated differences in the 5 year restricted mean percentage of person-time spent (i) in care, (ii) receiving ART and (iii) on ART and virally suppressed among 2432 (30.2%) women, 3925 MSM (48.7%) and 1709 men who have sex with women (MSW; 21.2%) entering care in the Dat'AIDS French prospective cohort between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2017. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov reference NCT02898987. RESULTS: Men and women spent 85.6% and 82.8% of person-time on ART and 69.9% and 65% suppressed, respectively. MSM, MSW and women spent 86.9%, 82.6% and 82.8% of person-time on ART and 72.5%, 63.7% and 65% suppressed, respectively. Patients born in France (47%) and patients born abroad spent 87.9% and 81.9% of person-time on ART and 74.6% and 62.9% suppressed, respectively. Young men born abroad were found to spend the smallest person-time with non-detectable viral load (53% for MSW and 58.1% for MSM). CONCLUSIONS: Despite free access to care and universal ART in France, disparities remain in the HIV continuum care across age, country of birth and way of HIV acquisition. Clinical and public health interventions targeting specific patients' conditions are needed.

Microelimination or Not? The Changing Epidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Hepatitis C Virus Coinfection in France 2012-2018.

BACKGROUND: The arrival of highly effective, well-tolerated, direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) led to a dramatic decrease in hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-HCV-coinfected patients are deemed a priority population for HCV elimination, while a rise in recently acquired HCV infections in men who have sex with men (MSM) has been described. We describe the variations in HIV-HCV epidemiology in the French Dat'AIDS cohort. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort of persons living with HIV (PLWH) from 2012 to 2018. We determined HCV prevalence, HCV incidence, proportion of viremic patients, treatment uptake, and mortality rate in the full cohort and by HIV risk factors. RESULTS: From 2012 to 2018, 50 861 PLWH with a known HCV status were followed up. During the period, HCV prevalence decreased from 15.4% to 13.5%. HCV prevalence among new HIV cases increased from 1.9% to 3.5% in MSM but remained stable in other groups. Recently acquired HCV incidence increased from 0.36/100 person-years to 1.25/100 person-years in MSM. The proportion of viremic patients decreased from 67.0% to 8.9%. MSM became the first group of viremic patients in 2018 (37.9%). Recently acquired hepatitis represented 59.2% of viremic MSM in 2018. DAA treatment uptake increased from 11.4% to 61.5%. More treatments were initiated in MSM in 2018 (41.2%) than in intravenous drug users (35.6%). In MSM, treatment at the acute phase represented 30.0% of treatments in 2018. CONCLUSIONS: A major shift in HCV epidemiology was observed in PLWH in France from 2012 to 2018, leading to a unique situation in which the major group of HCV transmission in 2018 was MSM. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT02898987.

Evaluation of Drug Abuse by Hair Analysis and Self-Reported Use Among MSM Under PrEP: Results From a French Substudy of the ANRS-IPERGAY Trial.

BACKGROUND: We used the Agence nationale de Recherches sur le sida et les hépatites virales (ANRS)-IPERGAY trial to qualitatively and quantitatively measure drug use among men who have sex with men under preexposure prophylaxis using 2 different methods, to better understand and collectively respond to risky practices. METHOD: We included 69 volunteers of the ANRS-IPERGAY trial. We measured drug use by 2 methods: (1) drug detection by hair analysis and (2) reported drug use by self-reported drug consumption. RESULTS: New psychoactive substances (NPS) and conventional drugs were detected in 53 of the 69 (77%) volunteers by hair analysis and in 39 of the 69 (57%) volunteers by questionnaires. On the 219 hair segments analyzed, the most commonly used drugs were cocaine in 47 of the 69 (68%), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine/ecstasy in 31 of the 69 (45%), and NPS in 27 of the 69 (39%). On the 1061 collected questionnaires, the most commonly used drugs were cocaine in 31 of the 69 (45%), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine/ecstasy in 29 of the 69 (42%), and NPS in 16 of the 69 (23%). Hair analysis detects more conventional drugs and/or NPS use (P < 0.05). Drug use identified by hair was significantly associated with a higher number of sexual partners in the past 2 months (P ≤ 0.001), more often casual partners (P ≤ 0.001), condomless anal sex (P ≤ 0.005), hardcore sexual practices (P ≤ 0.001), a higher number of sexually transmitted infections, and chemsex (P ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Self-report drug use by questionnaires remains the reference tool for harm reduction at the individual level because of its feasibility and low cost. However, hair analysis is more sensitive, objectively assessing consumption, and interesting to understand uses and to be able to collectively respond to risky practices with adapted messages.

Prevalence and Incidence of Human Papillomavirus Infection in Men Having Sex With Men Enrolled in a Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Study: A Sub-study of the Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le SIDA et les Hépatites Virales "Intervention Préventive de l'Exposition aux Risques avec et pour les hommes Gays" Trial.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is more frequent in men having sex with men (MSM) who are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) than in MSM without HIV. There are currently no data regarding HPV infections in preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP)-using MSM. METHODS: MSM living without HIV who were enrolled in the Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le SIDA et les Hépatites Virales "Intervention Préventive de l'Exposition aux Risques avec et pour les hommes Gays" PrEP study were prospectively enrolled. Anal, penile, and oral samples were collected at baseline and every 6 months for HPV detection and genotyping. Anal swabs for cytology were obtained at baseline and at 24 months. RESULTS: We enrolled 162 participants. The prevalences of any HPV genotypes at baseline were 92%, 32%, and 12% at the anal, penile, and oral sites, respectively. High-risk (HR) HPV genotypes were observed in 84%, 25%, and 10% of anal, penile, and oral baseline samples, respectively. Nonavalent HPV vaccine genotypes were observed in 77%, 22%, and 6% of anal, penile, and oral baseline samples, respectively. Multiple infections were observed in 76%, 17%, and 3% of cases at the anal, penile, and oral sites, respectively. The most frequent HR genotypes were HPV 53, 51, and 16 in anal samples; HPV 33, 39, and 73 in penile samples; and HPV 66 in oral samples. The incidence of any HPV genotype at the anal site was 86.2/1000 person-months and the incidence of HR-HPV genotypes was 72.3/1000 person-months. The baseline cytology was normal in 32% of cases and was classified as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, low-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesion, high-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesion (HSIL), and atypical squamous cells that cannot exclude HSIL in 23%, 40%, 5%, and 1% of cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: PrEP users have a similar risk of HPV infection as MSM living with HIV and the risk is much higher than that previously reported in MSM living without HIV.

Coronavirus disease 2019 attack rate in HIV-infected patients and in preexposure prophylaxis users.

OBJECTIVE: A new coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) emerged in China during late 2019 and resulted in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic which peaked in France in March-April 2020. Immunodeficiency, precariousness and promiscuity could increase the risk of COVID-19 in HIV-infected patients and in preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users. No epidemiological data are available in these two populations. We report COVID-19 attack rate in HIV-infected patients and in PrEP users in the Rhône department, France, and compared it with the general population. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of a laboratory database. METHODS: COVID-19 testing strategy in France was centered on symptomatic infections, hospitalized patients and symptomatic healthcare workers while most asymptomatic cases were not confirmed. SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate on PCR assays and COVID-19 attack rate were determined in HIV-infected patients and in PrEP users. COVID-19 attack rate in the general population was estimated from health authorities' database and demographic data. A corrected attack rate taking into account the laboratory representativeness was calculated. RESULTS: From March to April 2020, 24 860 samples from 19 113 patients (HIV-infected 77, PrEP users 27, others 19 009) were assessed for SARS-CoV-2 PCR assay. The positivity rate appeared similar in HIV-infected patients (15.6%), in PrEP users (14.8%) and in other patients (19.1%). The crude/corrected COVID-19 attack rate appeared similar in HIV-infected patients (0.31/0.38%) and in PrEP users (0.38/0.42%), and of the same order as the estimated attack rate in the general population (0.24%). CONCLUSION: The risk of symptomatic COVID-19 in France appeared similar in HIV-infected patients and in PrEP users compared with the general population.

Rilpivirine in HIV-1-positive women initiating pregnancy: to switch or not to switch?

BACKGROUND: Safety data about rilpivirine use during pregnancy remain scarce, and rilpivirine plasma concentrations are reduced during second/third trimesters, with a potential risk of viral breakthroughs. Thus, French guidelines recommend switching to rilpivirine-free combinations (RFCs) during pregnancy. OBJECTIVES: To describe the characteristics of women initiating pregnancy while on rilpivirine and to compare the outcomes for virologically suppressed subjects continuing rilpivirine until delivery versus switching to an RFC. METHODS: In the ANRS-EPF French Perinatal cohort, we included women on rilpivirine at conception in 2010-18. Pregnancy outcomes were compared between patients continuing versus interrupting rilpivirine. In women with documented viral suppression (<50 copies/mL) before 14 weeks of gestation (WG) while on rilpivirine, we compared the probability of viral rebound (≥50 copies/mL) during pregnancy between subjects continuing rilpivirine versus those switching to RFC. RESULTS: Among 247 women included, 88.7% had viral suppression at the beginning of pregnancy. Overall, 184 women (74.5%) switched to an RFC (mostly PI/ritonavir-based regimens) at a median gestational age of 8.0 WG. Plasma HIV-1 RNA nearest delivery was <50 copies/mL in 95.6% of women. Among 69 women with documented viral suppression before 14 WG, the risk of viral rebound was higher when switching to RFCs than when continuing rilpivirine (20.0% versus 0.0%, P = 0.046). Delivery outcomes were similar between groups (overall birth defects, 3.8/100 live births; pregnancy losses, 2.0%; preterm deliveries, 10.6%). No HIV transmission occurred. CONCLUSIONS: In virologically suppressed women initiating pregnancy, continuing rilpivirine was associated with better virological outcome than changing regimen. We did not observe a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Changes in kidney function among men having sex with men starting on demand tenofovir disoproxil fumarate - emtricitabine for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis.

INTRODUCTION: Daily pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) is associated with a small but statistically significant decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We assessed the renal safety of on-demand PrEP with TDF/FTC in HIV-1 uninfected men. METHODS: We used data from the randomized double-blind placebo-controlled ANRS-IPERGAY trial and its open-label extension conducted between February 2012 and June 2016 among HIV-uninfected MSM starting on-demand PrEP. Using linear mixed model, we evaluated the mean eGFR decline from baseline over time and determined risks factors associated with eGFR decline during the study. RESULTS: During the blind phase, with a median follow-up of 9.4 months, the mean decline slope of eGFR from baseline was -0.88 and -1.53 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year in the placebo (n = 201) and the TDF/FTC group (n = 198) respectively, with a slope difference of 0.65 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year (p = 0.27). Including both phases, 389 participants started on-demand TDF/FTC with a median follow-up of 19.2 months and a mean decline of eGFR from baseline of -1.14 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year (p < 0.001). The slope of eGFR reduction was not significantly different in participants with baseline eGFR ≤ 90 mL/min/1.73 m2 (p = 0.44), age >40 years (p = 0.24) or hypertension (p = 0.21). There was a dose-response relationship between recent tenofovir exposure and lower eGFR when considering the number of pills taken in the two months prior the visit (eGFR difference of -0.88 mL/min/1.73 m2 between >15 pills/month vs. ≤15 pills/month, p < 0.01) or plasma tenofovir concentrations at the visit (eGFR difference compared to ≤2 ng/mL: >2 to ≤10ng/mL: -0.98 mL/min/1.73 m2 , >10 to ≤40ng/mL: -1.28 mL/min/1.73 m2 , >40 ng/mL: -1.82 mL/min/1.73 m2 , p < 0.001). Three participants discontinued TDF/FTC for eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 during the OLE phase. No case of Fanconi syndrome was reported. CONCLUSIONS: The renal safety of on-demand PrEP with TDF/FTC was good. The overall reduction and intermittent exposure to TDF/FTC may explain this good renal safety.