Hospital Human Immunodeficiency Virus Research Articles

Childhood trauma, substance use and depressive symptoms in people with HIV during COVID-19.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), substance use, depressive symptoms, and HIV outcomes in people living with HIV (PLWHIV) have not been comprehensively investigated within a single study. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and association of ACEs, substance use, depressive symptoms and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) outcomes in PLWHIV accessing HIV care during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. District hospital HIV clinic in South Africa. A total of 196 PLWHIV completed a socio-demographic and clinical questionnaire; an adapted World Health Organization (WHO) Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test; WHO ACEs International Questionnaire, and Patient Health Questionnaire. The most common ACEs were having one or no parent, parental separation or divorce (n = 131, 66.8%), exposure to collective (n = 57, 29.1%) and community violence (n = 55, 28.1%), with 40.3% (n = 79) experiencing ≥ 3 ACEs. The most commonly used substances were alcohol (n = 34, 17.3%), tobacco (n = 33, 16.8%), and cannabis (n =13, 6.6%). The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 19.4% (n = 38). Linear regression analyses indicated greater alcohol (adj β = 2.84, p < 0.01), tobacco (adj β = 3.64, p < 0.01) and cannabis use risk scores (adj β = 2.39, p < 0.01) were associated with ≥ 3 ACEs. Logistic regression indicated depressive risk (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 9.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.78-23.51) was associated with ≥ 3 ACEs. A high prevalence of ACEs, substance use and depressive symptoms exists among PLWHIV, along with an association between cumulative ACEs and both substance use and depressive symptoms. Enhanced screening and management services are recommended to address this triple burden in PLWHIV.

Assessing index CD4 and associated outcomes at 1-year in a tertiary HIV clinic, KwaZulu-Natal.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) management guidelines have evolved from initiating therapy at CD4 counts of ≤ 200 cells/m3to implementing universal test and treat (UTT). This study aimed to assess whether in clinical practice, patients are presenting with higher baseline CD4 counts, describe the incidence of opportunistic infections and the proportion that achieved viral suppression. A retrospective cohort design with convenience sampling was conducted. Cohort 1 included patients initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ART) between 01 January 2014 and 31 December 2014, when criteria were set at CD4 count ≤ 350 cells/mm3. Cohort 2 included patients initiated on ART between 01 January 2019 and 31 December 2019, during the UTT era. At ART initiation, the median CD4 cell was 170 cells/mm3(interquartile range [IQR]: 85.5-287) in Cohort 1 cells/mm3and 243 cells/mm3(IQR: 120-411) in Cohort 2. Tuberculosis was the predominant OI in the group with CD4 cell count ≤ 200 cells/m3in both Cohort 1 (26.8%) and Cohort 2 (27.9%),p= 0.039. At 1 year, virological suppression was achieved in only 77.7% and 84.7% of Cohorts 1 and 2 patients. A notable portion of patients at King Edward VIII Hospital's HIV clinic commenced ART with CD4 counts significantly below the recommended guideline thresholds.Contribution:The research revealed a delay in initiating ART. A comprehensive reevaluation is essential to pinpoint the factors contributing to this delay and to devise customised interventions.

Antimalarial drug resistance markers in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and HIV-negative adults with asymptomatic malaria infections in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

In Nigeria, indiscriminate use of antimalarial drugs may contribute to the threat of drug resistance, but this has not been evaluated among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV-positive adults attending a university hospital HIV clinic and HIV-negative adult volunteers from the university hospital community with a positive blood film were treated with artemether-lumefantrine. Parasite DNA from before and after treatment was polymerase chain reaction amplified to identify molecular markers of drug susceptibility. The pfcrt76T genotype was prevalent among both HIV-positive and HIV-negative participants (78.6% and 68.2%, respectively). Three new mutations in the pfmdr1 gene-F73S, S97L and G165R-and the uncommon pfdhps S436F variant were detected, whereas pfdhps K540E and pfdhfr I164L were absent. The A437G allele of pfdhps predominated (62/66 [94%]). The I431 V mutation was found in 19 of 66 pretreatment pfdhps sequences (28.8%). The pfmdr1 86N allele was significantly more common at day 3 post-treatment than at baseline (odds ratio 8.77 [95% confidence interval 1.21 to 380]). We found evidence of continued chloroquine use among HIV-positive individuals. Selection for the pfmdr1 86N after artemether-lumefantrine treatment was observed, indicating a possible threat to antimalarial efficacy in the study area. The complexity of pfdhps haplotypes emphasises the need for careful monitoring of anti-folate susceptibility in Nigeria.

960. Implementation and Evaluation of Alcohol Screening Tool in HIV Patients

BackgroundIn November 2018, the US Preventative Service Task Force (USPSTF) advised screening for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in primary care settings for all adults. Given the consequences of AUD for immunocompromised patients, this recommendation was implemented using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) for patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. This is a medical-student led, retrospective study to determine the impact of AUD in HIV patients that were screened using the AUDIT self-administered questionnaire.MethodsAll HIV patients undergoing outpatient care at the Beaumont Hospital HIV clinic were provided this self-administered AUDIT questionnaire as part of routine, check-in procedure by clinic staff starting on February 5, 2019. Scores were divided into “At Risk” or “Not At Risk” categories. Men (aged 18-60) screened positive for at-risk drinking if they scored 8 or higher. Men (older than 60) and women of all ages screened positive for at-risk drinking if they scored 4 or higher. This categorization of risk was determined using the criteria established by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Analysis between groups was made using T-Tests, Chi-Square tests, and odds ratios (OR), with corresponding 95% Confidence Intervals.ResultsA total of 121 HIV patients completed at least one AUDIT form. There were a total of 157 patient encounters. The mean age of “At Risk” drinkers was significantly higher than the mean age of “Not at Risk” drinkers, at initial visits and all visits, respectively (55.75 years vs. 46.25 years, p = 0.0117; 55.33 years vs. 46.29 years, p = 0.0075). These findings are depicted in Tables 1 and 2.Table 1: Differences in Health Status between “At Risk” and “Not at Risk” Individuals (Initial Visit Only) Table 2: Differences in Health Status between “At Risk” and “Not at Risk” Individuals (All Visits) ConclusionThe preliminary results of this study demonstrate the importance of screening for AUD within the vulnerable HIV patient population. More specifically, it highlights the value of screening older individuals who may be at increased risk of hazardous drinking. In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic required transitioning to a telemedicine platform, thereby preventing completion of AUDIT paper forms. Thus, we will leverage technology by incorporating the AUDIT into electronic medical records, in effort to fortify this quality improvement initiative and ensure patient centered care.Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

1315. Food Insecurity and Viral Suppression in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Patients on Antiretroviral Treatment at an Urban Primary Care Practice

BackgroundThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active and healthy life. A review of the literature indicates that there are only few studies on food insecurity and people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the United States, despite it being one of the most basic physiological need. Here, we aimed to examine the association between food insecurity and viral load suppression in people with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) at an HIV primary care practice.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study conducted at an urban university hospital HIV primary care practice in Brooklyn, New York. It included patients seen during a six month period, from July 1 until December 31, 2018, that were found to have an unsuppressed viral load while reporting being on ART. We defined unsuppressed viral load as viral load >200 copies/milliliters. Food security was measured with the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), a questionnaire by USAID’s Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance Program, which has demonstrated cross-cultured validity. It categorized patients into four groups: food secure and mildly, moderately or severely food insecure. Patient were contacted in clinic during their appointment or by telephone survey.ResultsA total of 145 patients were found to have an unsuppressed viral load while on ART, with 54 patients (37%) reporting food insecurity. Based on HFIAS’s classification, 44 patients (30%) reported mild or moderate food insecurity, and 10 patients (7%) reported severe food insecurity. The study population demographics was 86% African American or blacks, 12% Hispanics and 2% of other race. Seventy-three patients (50%) also reported receiving benefits from New York’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.ConclusionFood insecurity can be associated with unsuppressed viral load and was found in over one-third of our study population, with half relying on food assistance programs. It represents a complex problem fundamentally connected to issues such as poverty and unstable housing, which can negatively impact patient engagement and retention in care. Our findings highlight the importance of integrating food and social services into HIV programs, especially in lower-income populations.Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Screening for cryptococcal antigenemia and analyzsis of the related cryptococcal lesions in hospitalized human immunodeficiency virus infected patients

Objective To evaluate the prevalence of cryptococcal antigenemia and explore the related cryptococcal lesions in hospitalized human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Methods Medical records of 517 HIV-infected patients, including patients' age, sex, clinical features, previous medical history, laboratory tests, chest CT, treatment and the response to treatment, in the Second Hospital of the Nanjing between January 2016 and February 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The serum cryptococcal antigen (sCrAg) was detected by lateral flow immunoassay. The χ2 test or Fisher exact test was used to perform the statistical analysis. Results Among 517 HIV-infected cases, 51 were sCrAg positive, of whom 96.1% (49 cases) were men. The cases with CD4+ T lymphocyte count <100×106 cells/L accounted for 66.2% (342 cases), while 90.2% (46 cases) in sCrAg-positive patients showed CD4+ T lymphocyte count <100×106 cells/L with statistical significance (χ2=14.6, P<0.01). Multivariable analysis revealed that CD4+ T lymphocyte count <100 ×106 cells/L was independent risk factor for cryptococcal antigenemia (OR=4.7; 95%CI: 1.8-12.5, P<0.01). Clinical cryptococcal diseases were found in 76.4% (39/51) of patients with cryptococcal antigenemia, and cryptococcal meningitis (CM), pulmonary cyptococcosis (PC) and cryptococcal septicemia were found in 56% (28/50), 52.9% (27/51) and 44.4% (16/36) of the patients, respectively. Cryptoccal disease was not identified in 21.6% (11/51) of the patients with cryptococcal antigenemia (isolated cryptococcal antigenemia). The median (range) sCrAg titers of the patients with and without CM were 1∶1 280 (1∶10-1∶2 560) and 1: 15 (1∶2-1∶2 560), respectively (P<0.01). The proportion of CM in patients with sCrAg titers ≤1∶5, 1∶10-1∶320 and ≥1∶640 were 0 (0/10), 50% (10/20) and 90% (18/20), respectively. When cryptococcal infection was restricted to the lung, 87.5% (7/8) of the patients had sCrAg titers ≤1∶20. 30% (3/10) of the patients with sCrAg titers ≤1∶5 had PC. The median (range) sCrAg titers of the patients with cryptococcal septicemia and with isolated cryptococcal antigenemia were 1∶1 280 (1∶10-1∶2 560) and 1∶5 (1∶2-1∶320), respectively. Conclusions The prevalence of cryptococcal antigenmia is high in hospitalized HIV-infected patients. Most patients with cryptococcal antigenemia have developed cryptococcal diseases. The sCrAg titer in HIV patients may, in some extend, predicts the condition of cryptococcal infection. sCrAg titers ≥1∶640 are strongly suggestive of CM. Patients with sCrAg titers ≤1∶5 seems unlikely to have CM or cryptococcal septicemia, however, clinician should still be alarmed of possible PC. Key words: HIV; Meningitis, cryptococcal; Cryptococcal antigenemia; Pulmonary cryptococcosis; Cryptococcal septicemia

Expanding Hospital Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing in the Bronx, New York and Washington, District of Columbia: Results From the HPTN 065 Study.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing is critical for both HIV treatment and prevention. Expanding testing in hospital settings can identify undiagnosed HIV infections. To evaluate the feasibility of universally offering HIV testing during emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient admissions, 9 hospitals in the Bronx, New York and 7 in Washington, District of Columbia (DC) undertook efforts to offer HIV testing routinely. Outcomes included the percentage of encounters with an HIV test, the change from year 1 to year 3, and the percentages of tests that were HIV-positive and new diagnoses. From 1 February 2011 to 31 January 2014, HIV tests were conducted during 6.5% of 1621016 ED visits and 13.0% of 361745 inpatient admissions in Bronx hospitals and 13.8% of 729172 ED visits and 22.0% of 150655 inpatient admissions in DC. From year 1 to year 3, testing was stable in the Bronx (ED visits: 6.6% to 6.9%; inpatient admissions: 13.0% to 13.6%), but increased in DC (ED visits: 11.9% to 15.8%; inpatient admissions: 19.0% to 23.9%). In the Bronx, 0.4% (408) of ED HIV tests were positive and 0.3% (277) were new diagnoses; 1.8% (828) of inpatient tests were positive and 0.5% (244) were new diagnoses. In DC, 0.6% (618) of ED tests were positive and 0.4% (404) were new diagnoses; 4.9% (1349) of inpatient tests were positive and 0.7% (189) were new diagnoses. Hospitals consistently identified previously undiagnosed HIV infections, but universal offer of HIV testing proved elusive.

Barriers to Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Treatment Initiation in Patients With Human Immunodeficiency Virus/HCV Coinfection: Lessons From the Interferon Era.

Hepatitis C is a major cause of mortality among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, yet hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment uptake has historically been low. Although the removal of interferon removes a major barrier to HCV treatment uptake, oral therapies alone may not fully eliminate barriers in this population. Within the Johns Hopkins Hospital HIV cohort, a nested case-control study was conducted to identify cases, defined as patients initiating HCV treatment between January 1996 and 2013, and controls, which were selected using incidence density sampling (3:1 ratio). Controls were matched to cases on date of enrollment. Conditional logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with HCV treatment initiation. Among 208 treated cases and 624 untreated controls, the presence of advanced fibrosis (odds ratio [OR], 2.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26-3.95), recent active drug use (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.19-0.69), and non-black race (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.26-3.20) were independently associated with initiation of HCV therapy. An increasing proportion of missed visits was also independently associated with lower odds of HCV treatment (25%-49% missed visits [OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.27-0.91] and ≥50% missed visits [OR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.12-0.48]). Interferon-free treatments may not be sufficient to fully overcome barriers to HCV care in HIV-infected patients. Interventions to increase engagement in care for HIV and substance use are needed to expand HCV treatment uptake.

Determinants of Survival in HIV Patients: A Retrospective Study of Dilla University Hospital HIV Cohort

Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has remarkably improved the survival of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) patients though it is not sufficient alone to achieve better HIV related clinical outcomes. There are many other modifiable factors that might have an impact on survival of HIV-infected patients. So far, few studies with small sample size have tried to assess the survival experience of HIV positive patients who are on treatment in Ethiopia. This study assessed the determinants of survival among HIV infected persons.

Virological failure reduced with HIV-serostatus disclosure, extra baseline weight and rising CD4 cells among HIV-positive adults in Northwestern Uganda.

BackgroundLittle is known about the incidence of virological failure among Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected adults after Uganda transitioned from Zidovidine/Lamivudine/ Nevirapine (AZT/3TC/NVP) to Tenofovir/Lamivudine/Efavirenze (TDF/3 T/EFV) as a first-line anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in 2013. This was the first study in Uganda to investigate the incidence and predictors of virological failure among HIV-positive adults in Northwestern Uganda.MethodA retrospective cohort of 383 HIV-positive adults at Arua Teaching and Regional Referral Hospital HIV Clinic with at least six months of ART duration and five consecutive good adherence levels was used. Socio-demographic and clinical variables were analyzed with STATA version 12 at 5 % significance level. The Chi-squared, Fisher’s exact and Student’s t-tests were used for bivariate analysis. Cox Proportional Hazard Regression analysis was used for univariable and multivariate analysis, Kaplan-Meier for comparison of survival probability and the log-rank for testing survivorship probability. Hazard ratios (HR), 95 % confidence intervals (CI) and probability values were stated.ResultsThe average age of the cohort was 34.0 ± 11 years (Median: 32 years, Interquartile range (IQR): 25–31 years). 28 (7.3 %; 95 % Confidence Interval [CI]: 4.9-10.6) incident cases of virological failures and an incidence rate of 58 per 1000 person-years over risk time of 483 years was recorded. One-kilogram baseline body weight difference (41-kg and above) at ART initiation (Adjusted Hazard Ratio [aHR] = 0.86, 95 % CI:0.76-0.96, P = 0.008), one-CD4 cell increase (35 cells/ul and above) after ART initiation (aHR = 0.99, 95 % CI: 0.98-0.99, P < 0.001) and HIV-serostatus disclosure (aHR = 0.15, 95 % CI: 0.06-033, P < 0.001) reduced the hazard of virological failure.ConclusionVirological failure is common among HIV-positive adults in Northwestern Uganda. It reduced with extra baseline weight, rising CD4 cell counts and HIV-serostatus disclosure.

Oral manifestations in human immunodefi ciency virus infected pediatric patients receiving and not receiving antiretroviral therapy: a cross sectional study

The aim of the study was to assess and compare oral manifestations of human immunodefi ciency virus (HIV) infected pediatric patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART) and those not undergoing ART. A cross sectional study included HIV positive children (receiving and not receiving ART) aged 5-15 years, registered at the District Hospital ART Centre, Udaipur, and HIV negative schoolchildren. HIV related oral lesions were diagnosed according to the World Health Organization criteria. Sociodemographic and other related information were also recorded. CD4+ cell count was determined in all study subjects. The χ2-test, stepwise multiple linear regression and logistic regression were used on statistical analysis. In all tests, confi dence interval and p-value were set at 95% and ≤0.05, respectively. A greater proportion of HIV patients receiving treatment had CD4+ cell count of more than 750 cells/mm3. The majority of HIV patients receiving ART for more than three years and only 20% of those not receiving ART were free from any oral lesions. The results of the present study demonstrated ART to be eff ective in reducing the prevalence of HIV related oral lesions, as already described in the literature; however, unlike previous studies, the present paper reports more valid fi ndings for having included most of the confounding variables.

Trends in hospital deaths among human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients during the antiretroviral therapy era, 1995 to 2011.

Mortality in hospitalized human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients is not well described. We sought to characterize in-hospital deaths among HIV-infected patients in the antiretroviral (ART) era and identify factors associated with mortality. We reviewed the medical records of hospitalized HIV-infected patients who died from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 2011 at an urban teaching hospital. We evaluated trends in early and late ART use and deaths due to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and non-AIDS, and identified clinical and demographic correlates of non-AIDS deaths. In-hospital deaths declined significantly from 1995 to 2011 (P < 0.0001); those attributable to non-AIDS increased (43% to 70.5%, P < 0.0001). Non-AIDS deaths were most commonly caused by non-AIDS infection (20.3%), cardiovascular (11.3%) and liver disease (8.5%), and non-AIDS malignancy (7.8%). Patients with non-AIDS compared to AIDS-related deaths were older (median age 48 vs 40 years, P < 0.0001), more likely to be on ART (74.1% vs 55.8%, P = 0.0001), less likely to have a CD4 count of <200 cells/mm(3) (47.2% vs 97.1%, P < 0.0001), and more likely to have an HIV viral load of ≤400 copies/mL (38.1% vs 4.1%, P < 0.0001). Non-AIDS deaths were associated with 4.5 and 4.2 times greater likelihood of comorbid underlying liver and cardiovascular disease, respectively. Non-AIDS deaths increased significantly during the ART era and are now the most common cause of in-hospital deaths; non-AIDS infection, cardiovascular and liver disease, and malignancies were major contributors to mortality. Higher CD4 cell count, liver, and cardiovascular comorbidities were most strongly associated with non-AIDS deaths. Interventions targeting non-AIDS-associated conditions are needed to reduce inpatient mortality among HIV-infected patients.

English

&nbsp; The presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type-1 diversity has an impact on vaccine efficacy and drug resistance. It is important to know the circulating genetic variants and associated drug-resistance mutations in the context of scale up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Nigeria. The objective of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of HIV-1 and the prevalence of antiretroviral (ARV) drug resistance mutations among antiretroviral treatment-na&iuml;ve HIV-1 infected patients in Jos, North Central Nigeria. Plasma samples were collected from 105 ARV drug-na&iuml;ve patients enrolled for HIV care at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) HIV Treatment Center between October 2010 and April 2011. One hundred (100) samples were successfully amplified. Viral subtyping was done using REGA subtyping tool and by phylogenetic analysis using PAUP software. The drug resistance mutations were determined using the Stanford University HIVdb sequence interpretation algorithm. HIV-1 subtypes identified were; CRF02_AG (48.0%), G (41.0%), CRF06_cpx (6.0%) and A1 (5.0%). 8% of the patients&rsquo; isolates had at least one major resistance mutation in the&nbsp;RT&nbsp;gene: Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors: M41L (1%), K65KR (1%), M184IM (1%), M184V (2%) and T215ADNT (1%), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors: K103N (2%), K101E (1%), G190A (1%), P225HP (1%), Y181I (1%), Y188L (1%), and Y181C (1%). Among antiretroviral (ARV) na&iuml;ve patients in Jos, North Central Nigeria, the common HIV-1 subtypes was CRF_02 and G. And the prevalence of drug resistance mutations was found to be high (8%).&nbsp;Further study and national surveillance will be critically important to understand the clinical impact of transmitted resistance mutations on ART na&iuml;ve individuals in resource limited settings. &nbsp; Key words:&nbsp;HIV-1 subtypes, antiretroviral (ARV), treatment-na&iuml;ve, drug-resistance, mutation, accessory and polymorphisms, Nigeria.

Long-term risk of mortality for acute kidney injury in HIV-infected patients: a cohort analysis

BackgroundAcute kidney injury (AKI) is common in hospitalized human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and is associated with hospital mortality. We aimed to evaluate the impact of AKI on long-term mortality of hospitalized HIV-infected patients.MethodsRetrospective analysis of a cohort of 433 hospitalized HIV-infected patients who were discharged alive from the hospital. AKI was defined according to ‘Risk Injury Failure Loss of kidney function End-stage kidney disease’ creatinine criteria, as an increase of baseline serum creatinine (SCr) X 1.5 or in patients with baseline SCr > 4 mg/dL if there was an acute rise in SCr of at least 0.5 mg/dL. Cumulative mortality curves were determined by the Kaplan-Meier method, and log-rank test was employed to analyze statistically significant differences between curves. Cox regression method was used to determine independent predictors of mortality. Risk factors were assessed with univariate analysis, and variables that were statistically significant (P < 0.05) in the univariate analysis were included in the multivariate analysis.ResultsSixty-four patients (14.8%) had AKI. Median follow-up was 37 months. At follow-up 81 patients (18.7%) died. At 1, 2 and 5 years of follow-up, the cumulative probability of death of patients with AKI was 21.2, 25 and 31.3%, respectively, as compared with 10, 13.3 and 16.5% in patients without AKI (log-rank, P = 0.011). In multivariate analysis AKI was associated with increased mortality (adjusted HR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-3; P = 0.049).ConclusionsAKI was independently associated with long-term mortality of hospitalized HIV-infected patients.

Reply to Holtzman and Gallagher

To The Editor—We thank Holtzman and Gallagher for their interest in our work [1]. Consistent with our study, which identified antiretroviral (ARV) medication errors in 29% of admissions during the first hospital day [2], they report an error rate of 26% among hospitalized human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected patients prescribed ARV medications at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA [1]. We would like to clarify a misunderstanding by Holtzman and Gallagher of our study methods. As we stated in the methods section of our paper, our study was a retrospective review of ARV medication errors, and not an evaluation of a pharmacist intervention [2]. Two clinical pharmacists retrospectively reviewed medical orders to identify ARV medication errors for study purposes, and were not present in real time to identify and correct medication errors. At Johns Hopkins Hospital, the HIV/AIDS service has a specialized clinical pharmacist who reviews all medications administered on the prior day. However, our study included not only patients admitted to the HIV/AIDS service, but also those admitted to medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, neurology, and psychiatry. These other services do not routinely include pharmacists on the rounding team. Since we did not specifically evaluate a clinical pharmacist intervention on medication orders, we offered clinical pharmacy review of medication orders as a possible reason for the decline in errors on the second day of hospitalization for two reasons: (1) prior studies have demonstrated the efficacy of clinical pharmacists in decreasing ARV medication errors [3], and (2) 64% of our study patients were admitted to the HIV/AIDS service, which has a dedicated HIV clinical pharmacist. Other interventions, both educational and technological, may also be important to correcting ARV medication errors that occur early in hospitalization.

Comparison of Conventional Cervical Cytology Versus Visual Inspection With Acetic Acid Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Infected Women in Western Kenya

This study aimed to determine the accuracy of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) versus conventional Pap smear as a screening tool for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia/cancer among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women. A total of 150 HIV-infected women attending the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital HIV clinic in Eldoret underwent conventional Pap smear, VIA, colposcopy, and biopsy. Both VIA and Pap smears were done by nurses, whereas colposcopy and biopsy were done by a physician. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was conducted to compare the accuracies between VIA and Pap smear in sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV). Among the study participants: VIA was abnormal in 55.3% (83/150, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 47.0%-63.5%); Pap smear showed atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or worse in 43.7% (59/135, 95% CI = 35.2%-52.5%) and 10% (15/150) of the Pap smears were unsatisfactory. Of the abnormal Pap smears, 3% (2/59) had atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, 7% (4/59) had high-grade atypical squamous cells, 60% (35/59) had low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, 29% (17/59) had high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, and 2% (1/59) was suspicious for cervical cancer. Using cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 or higher disease on biopsy as an end point, VIA has a sensitivity of 69.6% (95% CI = 55.1%-81.0%), specificity of 51.0% (95% CI = 41.5%-60.4%), PPV of 38.6% (95% CI = 28.8%-49.3%), and NPV of 79.1% (95% CI = 67.8%-87.2%). For conventional Pap smear, sensitivity was 52.5% (95% CI = 42.1%-71.5%), specificity was 66.3% (95% CI = 52.0%-71.2%), PPV was 39.7% (95% CI = 27.6%-51.8%), and NPV was 76.8% (95% CI = 67.0%-85.6%). Visual inspection with acetic acid is comparable to Pap smear and acceptable for screening HIV-infected women in resource-limited settings such as Western Kenya.

Acute kidney injury in hospitalized HIV-infected patients: a cohort analysis

Acute kidney injury (AKI) in hospitalized human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era has not been extensively addressed. The aim of the present study was to analyze the incidence, etiology, risk factors and the impact of AKI on in-hospital mortality in this population. A total of 489 HIV-infected patients hospitalized in the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Hospital de Santa Maria (Lisbon, Portugal) between January 2005 and December 2007 were retrospectively studied. AKI was defined by 'Risk Injury Failure Loss of kidney function End-stage kidney disease'(RIFLE) criteria based on serum creatinine. Comparisons between patients with and without AKI were performed using the Student's t-test or the χ2 test. Logistic regression method was used to determine predictors of AKI and in-hospital mortality. A two-tailed P-value <0.05 was considered significant. Eighty-eight patients (18%) had AKI within the hospitalization period. The most common etiologies of AKI were sepsis (59%), nephrotoxic drug administration (37.5%), volume depletion (21.6%) and radiocontrast use (20.5%). Preexisting hypertension [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-5.6, P = 0.04], acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (adjusted OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2-6, P = 0.02), sepsis (adjusted OR 23, 95% CI 11-45.3, P < 0.001) and nephrotoxic drug administration (adjusted OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.4-5.8, P = 0.004) were risk factors of AKI. Patients with AKI had higher in-hospital mortality than patients without AKI (27.3 versus 8%, P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, AKI was a risk factor of in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.3-5.6, P = 0.008). AKI occurred in 18% of hospitalized HIV-infected patients and it was independently associated with increased in-hospital mortality.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Treatment–Induced Adipose Tissue Pathology and Lipoatrophy: Prevalence and Metabolic Consequences

Lipoatrophy and metabolic complications of treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection may share common associations with adipose tissue pathology and inflammation. To investigate these relationships, we undertook a large-scale study of adipose tissue, body composition, and metabolic outcomes among HIV-infected adult men at a tertiary hospital HIV cohort during the period 2001-2007. Assessments included adipose biopsies (n = 211) for investigation of adipocyte mitochondrial DNA content, adipocytokine expression, and adipose macrophage content; and whole-body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans (n = 225) for objective body composition changes; 138 individuals contributed both biopsy and DEXA data. Compared with 78 treatment-naive control subjects, 98 zidovudine recipients (48%) and 49 stavudine recipients (67%) had leg fat measures <10% threshold value. Adipose samples associated with current stavudine or zidovudine (n = 99) revealed significant adipocyte mitochondrial DNA depletion, adipose tissue macrophage infiltration, and elevated proinflammatory cytokine levels, compared with samples from control subjects and nonthymidine nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) recipients (all P < .05). Improvements in adipose pathology after NRTI switching (n = 21 longitudinal samples) correlated with increased preswitch adipose inflammation and less severe fat loss (both P < .05). Elevated ratios of total to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and Homeostatic Metabolic Assessment scores correlated independently with lipoatrophy severity (P < .05) and increased body mass index (P < .05) in thymidine NRTI-experienced individuals. No effect of demographic or HIV-related variables, or HIV protease inhibitor therapy exposure was detected. Adipose tissue pathology and lipoatrophic fat loss are highly prevalent among recipients of stavudine- or zidovudine-based HIV treatment and are associated with adverse metabolic outcomes. Restoring adipose tissue health appears to be an important issue in the long-term treatment of this patient population.

Sexual Assault: A Report on Human Immunodeficiency Virus Postexposure Prophylaxis

The objective of this report is to describe an urban county hospital human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection prevention protocol offering prophylactic combination antiretroviral medications to female victims of sexual assault. A retrospective chart review was conducted from June, 2007 through June, 2008 of 151 women who were prescribed antiretroviral prophylaxis by protocol. All women receiving HIV prophylaxis initially screened HIV seronegative. Of the 58 women who reported taking any HIV prophylaxis, 36 (62%) were HIV screened at 12 and/or 24 weeks and none had HIV seroconverted. Although the initiation of an HIV post exposure prophylaxis protocol for sexual assault in a county hospital population is feasible, patient follow-up for counseling and HIV serostatus evaluation is an identified barrier

Co-infection of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in New York City, United States

To study the prevalence and risk factors associated with triple infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis B virus (HBV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) in an urban clinic population. Retrospective chart review of 5639 patients followed at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital HIV Clinic (Center for Comprehensive Care) in New York City, USA from January 1999 to May 2007. The following demographic characteristics were analyzed: age, sex, race and HIV risk factors. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of demographic factors on acquisition of these viruses. HIV/HBV, HIV/HCV and HIV/HBV/HCV infections were detected in 252/5639 (4.47%), 1411/5639 (25.02%) and 89/5639 (1.58%) patients, respectively. HIV/HBV co-infections were associated with male gender (OR 1.711; P = 0.005), black race (OR 2.091; P < 0.001), men having sex with men (MSM) (OR 1.747; P = 0.001), intravenous drug use (IDU) (OR 0.114; P < 0.001), IDU and heterosexual activity (OR 0.247; P = 0.018), or unknown (OR 1.984; P = 0.004). HIV/HCV co-infections were associated with male gender (OR 1.241; P = 0.011), black race (OR 0.788; P = 0.036), MSM (OR 0.565; P < 0.001), IDU (OR 8.956; P < 0.001), IDU and heterosexual activity (OR 9.106; P < 0.001), IDU and MSM (OR 9.179; P < 0.001), or transfusion (OR 3.224; P < 0.001). HIV/HBV/HCV co-infections were associated with male gender (OR 2.156; P = 0.015), IDU (OR 6.345; P < 0.001), IDU and heterosexual activity (OR 9.731; P < 0.001), IDU and MSM (OR 9.228; P < 0.001), or unknown (OR 4.219; P = 0.007). Our study demonstrates that co-infection with HBV/HCV/HIV is significantly associated with IDU. These results highlight the need to intensify education and optimal models of integrated care, particularly for populations with IDU, to reduce the risk of viral transmission.