In September 2006, CDC published revised recommendations for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing in health-care settings to 1) increase early detection of HIV infection by expanding HIV screening of patients and 2) improve access to HIV care and prevention services (e.g., by conducting screening in locations such as emergency departments and urgent-care facilities, where persons who do not otherwise access HIV testing seek health-care services).
December 1 marks the 19th observance of World AIDS Day. The theme for this year is “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.” At the end of 2003, an estimated 1.0--1.2 million persons in the United States were living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (1). Of these, an estimated 25% were unaware of their infection, underscoring a critical need to expand HIV testing.
These recommendations for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing are intended for all health-care providers in the public and private sectors, including those working in hospital emergency departments, urgent care clinics, inpatient services, substance abuse treatment clinics, public health clinics, community clinics, correctional health-care facilities, and primary care settings. The recommendations address HIV testing in health-care settings only. They do not modify existing guidelines concerning HIV counseling, testing, and referral for persons at high risk for HIV who seek or receive HIV testing in nonclinical settings (e.g., community-based organizations, outreach settings, or mobile vans).
Since the first cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were reported in 1981, infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has grown to pandemic proportions, resulting in an estimated 65 million infections and 25 million deaths (1,2). During 2005 alone, an estimated 2.8 million persons died from AIDS, 4.1 million were newly infected with HIV, and 38.6 million were living with HIV (2). HIV continues to disproportionately affect certain geographic regions (e.g., sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean) (Figure) and subpopulations (e.g., women in sub-Saharan Africa, men who have sex with men [MSM], injection-drug users [IDUs], and sex workers).
In 2003 and 2005, the Thailand Ministry of Public Health -- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Collaboration and its partners conducted surveillance of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence and risk factors among populations of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Thailand. In 2003, the assessment was conducted in Bangkok among a sample of MSM* (1). In 2005, in addition to Bangkok, the assessment was conducted in Chiang Mai and Phuket provinces, and participants were categorized as MSM, male sex workers (MSW), or transgendered persons (TG). This report compares HIV prevalence among MSM in Bangkok during 2003 and 2005, reports HIV prevalence among the three populations in 2005, and summarizes the results of univariate and multivariate analysis of risk factors for HIV infection in 2005.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (1). During 2004, Guyana had an estimated TB incidence rate of 140 per 100,000 population (1), the fourth highest rate in the Americas (after Haiti, Bolivia, and Peru); Guyana also had an estimated adult HIV prevalence of 2.5% (2), and 20% of TB patients were reported to be infected with HIV (3). In 2000, the Guyana Ministry of Health (MOH) began providing HIV counseling, testing, and referrals to HIV/AIDS programs at its six public chest clinics.
Young persons who engage in unprotected sexual intercourse or use injection drugs are at increased risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. To examine changes in HIV-related risk behavior among high school students in the United States during 1991--2005, CDC analyzed data from eight national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (YRBS) conducted during that period. This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that, during 1991--2005, the percentage of U.S. high school students engaging in HIV-related sexual risk behaviors decreased.
MMWR Recommendations and Reports - August 4, 2006 / 55(RR11);1-94
These guidelines for the treatment of persons who have sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) were developed by CDC after consultation with a group of professionals knowledgeable in the field of STDs who met in Atlanta, Georgia, during April 19--21, 2005. The information in this report updates the Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, 2002 (MMWR 2002;51[No. RR-6]).
In December 2004, infection with a strain of multidrug-resistant (MDR), dual-tropic* human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 was newly diagnosed in a man aged 46 years in New York City (NYC). The man (i.e., the index patient) had no history of antiretroviral treatment and reported having sex with multiple named and anonymous male partners, using crystal methamphetamine, and engaging in unprotected insertive and receptive anal intercourse.
MMWR Surveillance Summaries - July 7, 2006 / 55(SS06);1-16
For CDC's HIV-prevention strategic plan goal of reducing the number of new HIV infections to be achieved (19), a multifaceted approach is required that includes prevention programs designed to reduce risk behaviors and increase knowledge of HIV serostatus, especially among populations at high risk for HIV infection. To monitor progress toward achieving the objective and evaluate prevention programs, key behavior indicators must be collected from the same populations over time. NHBS was designed to collect these key indicators from the groups at high risk for acquiring HIV infection.
On June 5, 1981, MMWR published a report of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in five previously healthy young men in Los Angeles, California. These cases were later recognized as the first reported cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the United States. Since that time, this disease has become one of the greatest public health challenges both nationally and globally. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS have claimed the lives of more than 22 million persons worldwide, including more than 500,000 persons in the United States.
On June 5, 1981, MMWR published a report of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in five previously healthy young men in Los Angeles, California. These cases were later recognized as the first reported cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the United States. Since that time, this disease has become one of the greatest public health challenges both nationally and globally. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS have claimed the lives of more than 22 million persons worldwide, including more than 500,000 persons in the United States.
In June 1981, the first cases of what was later called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the United States were reported in MMWR (1). Since 1981, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic has continued to expand in the United States; at the end of 2003, approximately 1,039,000--1,185,000 persons in the United States were living with HIV/AIDS, an estimated 24%--27% of whom were unaware of their infection (2). This report highlights several major epidemiologic features of the U.S. HIV epidemic, including the decrease in overall AIDS incidence, the substantial increase in survival after AIDS diagnosis (especially since highly active antiretroviral therapy [HAART] became the standard of care in 1996), and the continued disparities among racial/ethnic minority populations.
During 2005, an estimated 92% of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases reported among children aged <13 years in the United States were attributed to mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (CDC, unpublished data, 2006). Transmission can occur during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or breastfeeding. Estimates of the number of perinatal HIV infections peaked in 1991 at 1,650 (1) and declined to an estimated range of 144--236 in 2002 (CDC, unpublished data, 2006).
When the first cases of what would become known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were reported in 1981, the magnitude of the epidemic and the numbers of deaths were unimaginable. During the next 25 years, an unprecedented mobilization of individual, community, and government resources was directed at stopping the epidemic.
The estimated prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is nearly five times higher for incarcerated populations (2.0%) (1) than for the general U.S. population (0.43%) (2). In 1988, the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) initiated mandatory HIV testing of inmates upon entry into prison and voluntary HIV testing of inmates on request or if clinically indicated. GDC offered voluntary HIV testing to inmates annually during July 2003--June 2005 and currently offers testing to inmates on request.
During 2001--2004, in nearly every demographic and transmission category, the largest percentages of HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed were among blacks. Disparities were observed in all demographic and transmission groups; however, the disparity was especially pronounced among women, children, and persons with high-risk heterosexual contact. Blacks accounted for the highest percentages and rates of cases for both males and females in the high-risk heterosexual contact transmission category and for the majority of cases of HIV attributed to perinatal transmission.
CDC and the Public Health Training Network will present a satellite broadcast and Webcast entitled, "Social Networks: A Recruitment Strategy for HIV Counseling, Testing, and Referral Services," on Thursday, April 27, 2006, beginning at 1 p.m. EDT. The 2-hour forum will cover the rationale for the use of social networks as a recruitment strategy for HIV counseling, testing, and referral services; the components of the social networks strategy; how to assess organization readiness for using the strategy; and available training and technical assistance. A panel of experts will answer viewer questions, which may be sent via fax during the broadcast or by e-mail after the broadcast.
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