Psychological and Behavioural Within-participant Predictors of Adherence to Oral HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).

Oral PrEP's effectiveness relies on adequate adherence during periods of substantial HIV risk. Since most PrEP users will miss doses, understanding predictors within participants can help to explain adherence. We used a cross-sectional, within-participant design with 67 gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men taking PrEP daily. Using a questionnaire, informed by the Information Motivation Behavioral Skills Model, participants were asked about an adherent and a non-adherent episode. PrEP non-adherence was associated with non-normality of the day (p < .001), being out of the home (p < .001), weekend days (p = .01), having company (p = .02), using substances (p = 0.02), not using reminders (p = .03), lower PrEP information (p = .04), lower behavioural skills (p < .001) and less positive affect (p = .002). PrEP adherence assessment could focus on situational variations, supporting the construction of alternative strategies to facilitate adherence in these situations.

HTLV seroprevalence in people using HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis in England.

OBJECTIVES: HTLV-1 is predominantly a sexually-transmitted infection but testing is not mentioned in HIV-PrEP guidelines. We ascertained HTLV-1/HTLV-2 seroprevalence amongst HIV-PrEP users in England. METHODS: An unlinked anonymous seroprevalence study. RESULTS: Amongst 2015 HIV-PrEP users, 95% were men, 76% of white ethnicity and 83% had been born in Europe. There were no HTLV-1/HTLV-2 seropositive cases (95% confidence interval 0% - 0.18%). CONCLUSIONS: There were no HTLV positive cases, likely reflecting the demographic of mostly white and European-born individuals. Similar studies are needed worldwide to inform public health recommendations for HIV-PrEP using populations, particularly in HTLV-endemic settings.

The clinical presentation of monkeypox: a retrospective case-control study of patients with possible or probable monkeypox in a West London cohort.

OBJECTIVES: Since May 2022, cases of human monkeypox virus (hMPXV) with human-to-human cross-transmission have significantly increased in nonendemic countries. Our aim was to characterize diagnostic features of patients with confirmed and possible monkeypox to guide future risk stratification and to describe a virtual care model. METHODS: We performed a retrospective case-control study of 140 patients assessed and screened for suspected monkeypox; on hMPXV polymerase chain reaction testing, 70 were confirmed positive, and 70 were negative. Data were compared to generate odds ratios of demographic and clinical features. RESULTS: Patients who tested positive were predominantly cis-male (99%) and self-identified as gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (94%). Lymphadenopathy at presentation was associated with a higher likelihood of a positive result (odds ratio [OR] 7.69 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.58, 16.51]). Patients who tested positive were more likely to have a rash affecting the genital (OR 5.38 [95% CI 2.57, 11.23]) or buttocks/perianal region (OR 3.79 [1.70, 8.45]) than negative controls. A total of 79% of patients were engaged with a virtual ward follow-up. CONCLUSION: These data can inform a risk-based approach to the management of suspected monkeypox in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men populations. Lymphadenopathy at presentation and the location of the rash were more associated with a positive hMPXV result. Health authorities can consider a virtual ward approach in the hMPHXV outbreak.

HIV testing in patients presenting with indicator conditions in outpatient settings: offer and uptake rates, and educational and active interventions.

Approximately 13% of people living with HIV in the UK are undiagnosed which has significant implications in terms of onward transmission and late diagnosis. HIV testing guidelines recommend routine screening in anyone presenting to healthcare with an HIV indicator condition (IC); however, this does not occur routinely. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of using case note prompts highlighting the presence of an IC to increase HIV testing. Clinicians in three outpatient departments received case note prompts either before or after a period of clinician-led identification. Test offer and uptake rates were assessed. A parallel anonymous seroprevalence study estimated the prevalence of undiagnosed HIV. A total of 4191 patients had an appointment during the study period; 608 (14.5%) had an IC. HIV test offer was significantly higher when a prompt was inserted into notes (34.3% versus 3.2%, p < 0.001). The prevalence of diagnosed HIV in the cohort was 4.1%. No cases of undiagnosed HIV infection were identified. Despite guidelines, offer of HIV testing is low. Strategies to increase routine screening of patients presenting with an IC are needed. Individual case note prompts significantly increase HIV test offer; however, the effect is lost if the strategy is withdrawn.

Perceived need of, and interest in, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis amongst men who have sex with men attending three sexual health clinics in London, UK.

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has proven efficacy in reducing the risk of HIV infection in men who have sex with men (MSM), but has not yet been commissioned in the UK. The aim of this study was to investigate perceived need and benefit (or experience of) PrEP among HIV-negative MSM attending sexual health clinics. HIV-negative MSM attending three sexual health centres in London, UK were opportunistically invited to complete a questionnaire. Data collected comprised demographic data and sexual and drug use behaviours as well as questions regarding perceptions of risk and need for PrEP. Logistic regression analysis was undertaken to identify variables predicting acceptability of, and intention to use, PrEP. In addition, data were gathered in respondents already taking PrEP. Eight hundred and thirty-nine questionnaires were analysed. The median age of respondents was 35 years (IQR 28-41, range 18-78), 650 (77%) were of white ethnicity and 649 (77%) had a university education. Four hundred and fifty-six (54%) reported at least one episode of condomless anal sex in the preceding three months, 437 (52%) reported recreational drug use in the preceding three months and 311 (37%) had been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection within the preceding six months. Four hundred and sixty-three (64%) of 726 strongly agreed with the statement 'I think I would benefit from PrEP'. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that having receptive anal intercourse (RAI) without condoms, having an awareness of the risk of unprotected RAI and having belief in the effectiveness of PrEP were independent predictors for someone thinking they would benefit from taking PrEP. Eight percent of respondents (59/724) had already taken or were currently taking PrEP. The results suggest that individuals at risk are likely to perceive themselves as benefiting from PrEP. The majority perceived their risk of acquiring HIV and benefit from PrEP accurately. Overall they appeared to have little concern over the use of PrEP and generally positive attitudes. Further investigation is warranted to understand why those at risk do not perceive benefit from PrEP.

Service impact of a change in HIV-1 viral load quantification assay.

INTRODUCTION: Due to discontinuation of the Siemens Versant HIV-1 RNA (bDNA) assay in the UK, our laboratory switched to the Roche Cobas Ampliprep/Taqman HIV-1 viral load (VL) assay (Roche) in April 2013. This assay has a lower cut-off of 20 RNA copies/mL (compared with <50 for the Siemens assay). Our laboratory demonstrated previously that a significant proportion (18%) of patients undetectable using bDNA HIV-1 RNA quantification exhibited low level viraemia (LLV) using the new assay. Local guidelines recommend that patients stable on therapy receive twice-yearly VLs. We evaluated the impact of the introduction of the new assay on our clinical service. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis of treated patients with stable undetectable VL by bDNA (<50 copies/mL) followed by ≥ one low-level (<400 copies/mL) VL with the Roche assay. Demographic data were collected in addition to frequency of VL testing and genotypic resistance assays. Referrals to virtual clinic (VC) were recorded. Patients were identified using laboratory data and information collected from electronic patient records. RESULTS were analyzed with SPSS v18. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety patients were included. DEMOGRAPHICS: 79.5% male; 60.6% homosexual; mean age of 46 years. Duration on stable treatment was 46.35 (std. dev. 38.15) months. Current treatment regimens were 43.3% PI-based; 43.3% NNRTI-based and 13.7% other. Patients were stratified into VL 20-49 copies/mL (n=109); VL 50-199 copies/mL (n=71) and VL 200-399 copies/mL (n=10). In total, there were 471 VLs measured of which 274 were additional as a result of the assay switch. This resulted in six HIV-1 genotype requests and 16 VC discussions (Table 1). Longer duration on HAART was associated with reduced frequency of VL testing. The relative risk of ongoing detectability according to drug class are: PI 1.62 (95% CI 1.18-2.21); NNRTI 0.507 (95% CI 0.30-0.85) and other 1.09 (95% CI 0.48-2.43). CONCLUSIONS: Changes in assay can result in difficulties in interpretation of patient results. The assay switch in our service had significant impact on patient and staff time and cost with an increase in patient recalls; increased frequency of VL measurement, genotypes and discussions in VC. Choice of assay is paramount to running an efficient and cost-effective clinical service.

Vulval disease in HIV-positive women attending a tertiary vulval dermatology clinic over a five-year period.

There is a paucity of data on vulval disease in HIV-infected women. We describe the spectrum of vulval disease in HIV-infected women attending a tertiary vulval dermatology referral centre over a five-year period. Seven vulval conditions were identified in 14 women. Most were attending for HIV care (n = 12, 86%), and on combined antiretroviral therapy (CART) with a CD4 cell count above 200 cells/µL (n = 9, 64%) at diagnosis. Imiquimod therapy was effective in treating undifferentiated vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (uVIN) - the most common diagnosis. There were no cases of invasive vulval carcinoma. Hypertrophic herpes simplex virus occurred in one woman stable on CART with good immune reconstitution. Clinicians should be vigilant about the spectrum of vulval disease in HIV-infected women and consider genital examination as part of routine care.

An overview of the relative risks of different sexual behaviours on HIV transmission.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Sexual intercourse represents the majority of HIV transmission and is preventable. Overall, the risk of HIV transmission following a single sexual exposure is low especially in comparison with other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), with estimates of the average probability of male-to-female HIV transmission only 0.0005-0.0026 per coital act. The risk of acquiring HIV from a single contact varies enormously and is dependant upon the infectiousness of the HIV-positive individual and the susceptibility to HIV of their sexual partner. RECENT FINDINGS: Of concern, unprotected sex among men who have sex with men (MSM) has increased in recent years and HIV incidence in both MSM and heterosexuals remains a considerable public health concern. Sexual practices and health optimism about HIV have changed, which have significantly impacted HIV risk behaviour. SUMMARY: In this review article we summarize the current evidence regarding the observed relative risks of HIV transmission for each different types of sex act, relationship type and the strategies that have been tested to interrupt transmission.