High incidence of HCV in HIV-negative men who have sex with men using pre-exposure prophylaxis

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Serum-free purified Vero rabies vaccine is safe and immunogenic in children: Results of a randomized phase II pre-exposure prophylaxis regimen study

BackgroundA serum-free, highly purified Vero rabies vaccine (PVRV-NG) has been developed with no animal or human components and low residual DNA content. A phase II randomized clinical study aimed to demonstrate the non-inferiority of the immune response and assess the safety profile of PVRV-NG versus a licensed human diploid cell culture rabies vaccine (HDCV) in a pre-exposure regimen in healthy children and adolescents in the Philippines.MethodologyChildren aged 2–11 years and adolescents aged 12–17 years were randomized (2:1) to receive three injections of either PVRV-NG or HDCV (on day [D] 0, D7 and D28). Rabies virus-neutralizing antibodies (RVNA) were measured at D0, D42 and 6 months after the first injection (month [M] 6). Safety was assessed during the vaccination period and up to 28 days after the last vaccination. Serious adverse events were followed until 6 months after last vaccination.Principal findings342 healthy participants (171 children and 171 adolescents) were randomized and followed for 6 months after the last dose. All participants in both groups had an RVNA titer ≥ 0.5 IU/ml at D42, demonstrating non-inferiority in seroconversion rate for PVRV-NG versus HDCV. Over 90% of participants had RVNA titer ≥ 0.5 IU/ml at M6. PVRV-NG was well tolerated after each vaccination and up to 6 months following the last dose. There were no major safety concerns during the study, and the type and severity of solicited adverse events was similar for both treatment groups.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated the non-inferior immune profile of PVRV-NG compared with HDCV in a pre-exposure setting within a pediatric population. PVRV-NG was well tolerated with no safety concerns. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01930357) and EU Clinical Trials Register (2015–003203-30).     

Pre-exposure prophylaxis sorting among men who have sex with men

Factors such as race, masculinity, and sexually transmitted infections have been documented to influence partner selection in men who have sex with men (MSM). Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has received mixed evaluations as a responsible step in HIV prevention and as an enabler of risker sexual practices. PrEP may consequently serve as an additional factor in partner choice. We examine the role that PrEP use and “promiscuity” play in affiliation and dating decisions by men who have sex with men with different HIV and PrEP stati. We invited 450 MSM across the United States from a smartphone geo-locating sex application to complete a survey of which 339 successfully finished the task. The survey contained vignettes of fictional men who were promiscuous or monogamous and either taking PrEP or not. Participants provided responses on whether to affiliate with these characters in three social domains: as friends, dates, or sex partners. Neither PrEP nor promiscuity influenced friendship choices. There was a preference for dating monogamous characters. Critically, PrEP influenced sexual affiliations for HIV negative individuals who showed a preference for PrEP-using characters. The pattern of results provides quantitative evidence for PrEP-based sexual sorting aimed at reducing risk of HIV transmission.     

参加暴露前预防的男男性行为者HIV自我检测试剂使用现状及影响因素分析

目的分析参加暴露前预防(PrEP)MSM的HIV自我检测(自检)试剂使用现状及相关影响因素。方法2018年12月至2019年12月,使用"金数据"平台(www.jinshuju.com)对沈阳市、北京市、重庆市和深圳市参与多中心PrEP研究的MSM进行现况调查。结果共有1222例MSM研究对象,年龄(31.5±8.7)岁,最近3个月性伴数为3(P25,P75:2,6)个,与固定性伴、偶然性伴和商业性伴发生肛交时未使用安全套的比例分别为62.7%(456/727)、56.3%(440/781)和41.0%(16/39)。曾使用过HIV自检试剂的比例为74.5%(910/1222),最近1年HIV自检次数为3(P25,P75:2,5)次。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,HIV自检行为的相关影响因素中,分别相比于>40岁组、初中及以下文化程度、心理认同性别为女性、PrEP服药方式为事件驱动服药组、最近3个月未使用过新型毒品,18~岁组(aOR=2.06,95%CI:1.35~3.14)、26~岁组(aOR=2.72,95%CI:1.77~4.17)和31~岁组(aOR=1.76,95%CI:1.19~2.59)、文化程度大学本科/大专(aOR=2.18,95%CI:1.35~3.49)和研究生及以上(aOR=3.06,95%CI:1.69~5.54)、心理认同性别为男性(aOR=3.22,95%CI:1.55~6.70)、PrEP服药方式为每日服药组(aOR=1.35,95%CI:1.03~1.78)、最近3个月使用过新型毒品(aOR=1.72,95%CI:1.30~2.28)的HIV自检行为的比例更高。结论MSM参与PrEP者HIV自检行为的比例较高,但高年龄组、PrEP服药方式为事件驱动服药及未使用过新型毒品的MSM对HIV自检行为比例较低。为评估PrEP使用效果及依从性,需为HIV自检比例较低的MSM提供更完善的自检服务。     

广西地区650 名男男性行为者对暴露前预防HIV感染接受意愿及其影响因素研究

目的 了解广西地区男男性行为者(MSM)对暴露前预防(PrEP)HIV感染的接受意愿及其影响因素.方法 采用滚雪球法招募650名MSM,利用自行设计的调查问卷一对一面访,了解MSM与艾滋病相关的高危行为、对PrEP的知晓情况及接受意愿.结果 假设PrEP使用的药物安全、有效且免费提供,有91.9%的MSM表示愿意服用药物.自述愿意服药的原因主要为可降低HⅣ感染的风险,不愿意服用药物的原因主要为担心药物的副作用和怀疑药物的效果.logistic回归分析显示,与接受PrEP意愿有关的因素为"是否通过朋友介绍性伴"(OR=6.21,P=0.020)、"是否有能力预防HIV感染"(OR=O.32,P=0.010)、"是否拒绝与不使用安全套的人发生性行为"(OR=0.34,P=0.010)、"是否建议朋友接受PrEP"(OR=39.32,P=0.000).结论 药物的安全性、有效性及费用可能是影响广西地区MSM接受PrEP的主要因素,免费提供安全、有效且副作用小的药物可能是推广PrEP的较好方式;以同伴教育的方式宣传PrEP可能会提高其接受意愿.

Abstract：

Objective To study the acceptability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent the transmission of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Guangxi, China.Methods Snow-balling methods were used to recruit 650 MSM in Guangxi. Questionnaires and interview were administrated to these 650 men, using a self-designed questionnaire and face to face interviews to collect information on HIV-related risk behaviors, knowledge and acceptability of PrEP.effective, safe and free of charge', 597 (91.9%) of the 650 MSM claimed that they would accept it,who refused to use it, most of them said that were afraid of the side-effect and doubted on the effectiveness of PrEP. Data from logistic regression analysis showed that those who had found partners through friends (OR=6.21, P=0.020) and those who would advise his friend to use PrEP (OR=39.32, P=0.000) were more likely to accept PrEP. Those who thought they could protect themselves from HIV infection (OR=0.32, P=0.010) or not having sex with the ones who refused to use a condom (OR=0.34, P=0.010) were less likely to accept PrEP. Conclusion Effectiveness, safety and cost seemed to be the main influential factors related to the acceptability of PrEP. Peer education might improve the acceptability of PrEP.     

Modeling the Impact of PrEP Programs for Adolescent Sexual Minority Males Based on Empirical Estimates for the PrEP Continuum of Care

PurposePre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)—an effective and safe intervention to prevent HIV transmission—was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use by adolescents. Informed by studies of sexual behavior and PrEP adherence, retention, and promotion, we model the potential impact of PrEP use among at-risk adolescent sexual minority males.MethodsWe simulate an HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM) aged 13–39. We assume adult MSM ages 19–39 have had PrEP available for 3 years with 20% coverage among eligible MSM based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. PrEP interventions for ages 16–18 are then simulated using adherence and retention profiles drawn from the ATN113 and Enhancing Preexposure Prophylaxis in Community studies across a range of uptake parameters (10%–100%). Partnerships across age groups were modeled using parameterizations from the RADAR study. We compare the percent of incident infections averted (impact), person-years on PrEP per infection averted (efficiency), and changes in prevalence over 10 years.ResultsAs compared to no PrEP use, baseline PrEP adherence and retention among adolescent sexual minority males drawn from the ATN113 and Enhancing Preexposure Prophylaxis in Community studies averted from 2.8% to 41.0% of HIV infections depending on the fraction of eligible adolescent sexual minority males that initiated PrEP at their annual health-care visit. Improved adherence and retention achieved with an array of focused interventions from real-world settings increased the percent of infections averted by as much as 26%–70%.ConclusionsEmpirically demonstrated improvements in the PrEP continuum of care in response to existing interventions can substantially reduce incident HIV infections among adolescent sexual minority males.     

Drug use,depression and sexual risk behaviour: a syndemic among early pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adopters in Belgium?

ABSTRACT

Little is known about how interacting psychosocial problems may influence sexual behaviour among men having sex with men taking Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). This study assessed (1) the prevalence of depression, recreational drug-use and sexual risk behaviour; (2) changes in these psychosocial conditions over time; and (3) the interaction of drug use and depression with sexual risk behaviour. We analysed data of the Belgian Be-PrEP-ared cohort study (N = 200). We assessed depression using the PHQ-9, recreational drug use and receptive condomless anal intercourse (rCAI) with anonymous partners. Frequencies of psychosocial problems were compared at baseline, 9 and 18 months follow-up (FU). Bivariate associations between depression and drug-use behaviour, and their interaction with rCAI with anonymous sexual partners using was examined using linear regression. Receptive CAI increased from 41% at baseline to 53% at M18 (p = 0.038). At baseline, we found an interaction effect of poly-drug use and depression, potentiating rCAI with anonymous partners. Participants reporting poly-drug use associated with depression were significant more likely to report this type of sexual risk behaviour than those who did not report this association (p = 0.030). The high level of intertwined psychosocial problems call for multi-level interventions for those PrEP users experiencing a syndemic burden.     

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness and acceptability among trans women: a review

ABSTRACT

Transgender (trans) women are disproportionally burdened by the HIV epidemic due to complex structural, psychosocial and biological factors. HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a biomedical prevention approach for people at substantial risk of acquiring HIV. This literature review assessed awareness, willingness to use, and barriers and facilitators for PrEP acceptability among trans women. A search was conducted through five databases and included studies with primary data and disaggregate results for trans women. Of 255 retrieved citations, 17 met the inclusion criteria and were included. Low to moderate knowledge about PrEP was observed among studies. However, willingness to use PrEP was predominantly high. Frequent barriers to PrEP acceptability included concerns about side effects, cost, hormone therapy, adherence, PrEP-related stigma and interaction with healthcare workers. Facilitators included perceived reduction of HIV risk, fear of HIV/AIDS and reduced dependence on partners. Findings suggest elevated interest in PrEP and highlight important barriers and facilitators that should be specifically addressed to optimize PrEP uptake and use among this highly vulnerable population.     

Secrecy,empowerment and protection: positioning PrEP in KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa

Abstract

The release of World Health Organisation guidelines recommending the prophylactic use of daily Truvada^® for all populations at high risk of acquiring HIV opens the way for implementation of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The impact of new prevention technologies is, however, dependent on demand creation strategies such as user awareness, acceptability and access, which in turn are influenced by sociocultural and gender norms. This study was conducted in three locations in KwaZulu-Natal, urban, rural and peri-urban, with six participatory workshops. Knowledge, desirable features of a product and demand positioning for PrEP were assessed using a participatory action media research process which included art-based activities and group discussion using a semi-structured interview schedule. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. The key themes that emerged in relation to product adoption were: ability to maintain secrecy of product use; the need for agency with personal choices around HIV prevention; and an increased desire for HIV protection. Findings reaffirm the influence of user engagement in understanding the sociocultural dynamics that influence demand creation for PrEP adoption.