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High prevalences of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have been reported in the current global monkeypox outbreak, which has affected primarily gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) (1-5). In previous monkeypox outbreaks in Nigeria, concurrent HIV infection was associated with poor monkeypox clinical outcomes (6,7). Monkeypox, HIV, and STI surveillance data from eight U.S. jurisdictions* were matched and analyzed to examine HIV and STI diagnoses among persons with monkeypox and assess differences in monkeypox clinical features according to HIV infection status. Among 1,969 persons with monkeypox during May 17-July 22, 2022, HIV prevalence was 38%, and 41% had received a diagnosis of one or more other reportable STIs in the preceding year. Among persons with monkeypox and diagnosed HIV infection, 94% had received HIV care in the preceding year, and 82% had an HIV viral load of <200 copies/mL, indicating HIV viral suppression. Compared with persons without HIV infection, a higher proportion of persons with HIV infection were hospitalized (8% versus 3%). Persons with HIV infection or STIs are disproportionately represented among persons with monkeypox. It is important that public health officials leverage systems for delivering HIV and STI care and prevention to reduce monkeypox incidence in this population. Consideration should be given to prioritizing persons with HIV infection and STIs for vaccination against monkeypox. HIV and STI screening and other recommended preventive care should be routinely offered to persons evaluated for monkeypox, with linkage to HIV care or HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2014, 81% of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection diagnoses in the United States were in males, with the highest number of cases among those aged 20-29 years. Racial and ethnic minorities continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV; there are 13 new diagnoses each year per 100,000 white males, 94 per 100,000 black males, and 42 per 100,000 Hispanic males (1). Despite the recommendation by CDC for HIV testing of adults and adolescents (2), in 2014, only 36% of U.S. males aged ≥18 years reported ever having an HIV test (3), and in 2012, an estimated 15% of males living with HIV had undiagnosed HIV infection (4). To identify opportunities for HIV diagnosis in young males, CDC analyzed data from the 2009-2012 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and U.S. Census data to estimate rates of health care use at U.S. physicians' offices and HIV testing at these encounters. During 2009-2012, white males visited physicians' offices more often (average annual rate of 1.6 visits per person) than black males (0.9 visits per person) and Hispanic males (0.8 visits per person). Overall, an HIV test was performed at 1.0% of visits made by young males to physicians' offices, with higher testing rates among black males (2.7%) and Hispanic males (1.4%), compared with white males (0.7%). Although higher proportions of black and Hispanic males received HIV testing at health care visits compared with white males, this benefit is likely attenuated by a lower rate of health care visits. Interventions to routinize HIV testing at U.S physicians' offices could be implemented to improve HIV testing coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A report is presented on the use of health care and the HIV testing of males in the U.S. from 2009-2012. Topics discussed include the average visits of males aged 15-39 years to the office of physicians, the significance of undiagnosed infection identification, and the implications of the report for public health practice.

The article discusses a study that analyzed methods to detect acute HIV infection among a primarily young population from North Carolina. Participants were from 3 sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics in North Carolina were newly diagnosed with HIV infection and reported a male sex partner during the partner services interview. It suggests the implementation of novel strategies to accurately assess risk among HIV-infected men having sex with men (MSM).

The incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has significantly increased among black men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States, and young black MSM have been disproportionately affected. HIVinfected black MSM are also less likely to engage in HIV care and achieve viral suppression than MSM of other races/ethnicities. Engaging in care and achieving viral suppression is a multistep process that starts with diagnosis. Diagnosing persons unaware of their HIV status traditionally has been a critical component of HIV partner services, but partner services also provide an important opportunity to reengage HIVinfected partners in medical care. One approach for partner services involves contacting partners of persons with newly diagnosed HIV infection and using sexual and social network and molecular phylogenetic data to improve the continuum of HIV care among black MSM. To evaluate the effectiveness of that approach, results from a prospective partner services study conducted in North Carolina were examined, and one of the partner networks identified through this study was evaluated in depth. Overall, partner services were provided to 30 black, HIV-infected MSM who named 95 sex partners and social contacts, of whom 39 (41%) previously had been diagnosed with HIV infection. The partner network evaluation demonstrated that HIV-infected and HIV-negative partners were frequently in the same network, and that the majority of HIV-infected partners were already aware of their diagnosis but had not achieved viral suppression. Using partner services to ensure that HIV-infected partners are linked to care and treatment might reduce HIV transmission and might improve outcomes along the continuum of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) two evaluations of an HIV diagnostic algorithm. It addresses how the problem of false-negative results early in the course of HIV infection can be resolved by testing for HIV RNA after a reactive immunoassay (AI) result and negative supplemental test result. The Western blot (WB) test is replaced with an HIV-1/HIV-2 antibody differentiation assay as the supplemental test.

The article reports on an interim guidance for prevention of sexual transmission of Zika virus issued by U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, as of July 2016. It states that guidance defines potential sexual exposure to Zika virus as having had sex with a person who has traveled to or lives in an area with active Zika virus transmission, and mentions recommendations for pregnant couples, and for couples who are not pregnant and are not planning to become pregnant.

The article talks about research on the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among drug users who inject drugs in the cities of Lawrence and Lowell in Massachusetts from 2015 to 2018. Interviews were conducted with the persons diagnosed with HIV and it notes about topics including the use of the drug fentanyl, impact of homelessness on their HIV treatment, and their sexual behavior.

The article discusses the outbreak of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Indiana in 2015 which was associated to injection drug use of oxymorphone. Topics include the investigation conducted by Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) on the outbreak of HIV infection, the injection drug use (IDU) in the community, and the outbreak demonstrates the significance of HIV and Hepatitis C surveillance.