There have been reports of increasing numbers of cases of malaria among migrants and travelers. Although microscopic examination of blood smears remains the "gold standard" in diagnosis, this method suffers from insufficient sensitivity and requires considerable expertise. To improve diagnosis, a multiplex real-time PCR was developed. One set of generic primers targeting a highly conserved region of the 18S rRNA gene of the genus Plasmodium was designed; the primer set was polymorphic enough internally to design four speciesspecific probes for P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malarie, and P. ovale. Real-time PCR with species-specific probes detected one plasmid copy of P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, and P. ovale specifically. The same sensitivity was achieved for all species with real-time PCR with the 18S screening probe. Ninety-seven blood samples were investigated. For 66 of them (60 patients), microscopy and real-time PCR results were compared and had a crude agreement of 86% for the detection of plasmodia. Discordant results were reevaluated with clinical, molecular, and sequencing data to resolve them. All nine discordances between 18S screening PCR and microscopy were resolved in favor of the molecular method, as were eight of nine discordances at the species level for the species-specific PCR among the 31 samples positive by both methods. The other 31 blood samples were tested to monitor the antimalaria treatment in seven patients. The number of parasites measured by real-time PCR fell rapidly for six out of seven patients in parallel to parasitemia determined microscopically. This suggests a role of quantitative PCR for the monitoring of patients receiving antimalaria therapy.

BackgroundWith African health-care systems facing exploding demand for HIV care, reliable methods for assessing adherence and its influencing factors are needed to guide effective public-health measures. This study evaluated individual patient characteristics determining antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence and the predictive values of different measures of adherence on virological treatment failure in a cohort of patients in a routine-care setting in Cameroon.MethodsLongitudinal study over 6-months following ART introduction, using patients questionnaires and hospital and pharmacy records.ResultsAt the end of the 6 months study period, 219 of 312 patients (70%) returned to the pharmacy to refill their medication, 17% (51) were lost to follow-up, 9% (28) were dead and 4% (14) were transferred to other care centres. Virological treatment failure at 6 months was experienced by 26 patients, representing 13% of patients with available viral load value. Pharmacy refill irregularity was the most powerful predictor (odds ratio 12.4; P < 0.001) of virological treatment failure, compared with CD4 cell count increase at 6 months (odds ratio 7.8; P = 0.002) or self-reported adherence at one month (odds ratio 1.1; P = 0.85). Low intensity of ART side-effects after one month was strongly associated with survival (odds ratio 0.11; P = 0.001). Patients starting ART with CD4 cell count <100 cells/mm3 had a greater risk of dying during the follow-up period (odds ratio 2.69; P = 0.02). Compared with asymptomatic CDC stage A patients, CDC stage B (odds ratio 5.72) and CDC stage C patients (odds ratio 16.9) had higher risk of becoming lost to follow-up (P < 0.001). In the multivariate analyses, pharmacy non-adherence was less frequent in women (adjusted odds ratio 0.56; P = 0.05) but more frequent in patients with high monthly income (odds ratio 3.24; P = 0.04).ConclusionPharmacy-refill adherence might be considered as an alternative to CD4 count monitoring for identification of patients at risk of virological failure, especially in resources-scarce countries. The study confirmed the difficulty in demonstrating clear associations of individual patient factors and treatment outcomes. The substantial loss to follow-up and deaths occurring within 6 months after initiating ART emphasise the need to understand the best timing of ART initiation and further elucidate and educate on the underlying reasons for delaying initiation of ART in resource-limited countries

Background In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced global targets for the elimination of hepatitis C (HCV) by 2030. We conducted a nationwide HCV micro-elimination program among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS) to test whether the WHO goals are achievable in this population. Methods During phase A (10/2015-06/2016), we performed a population-based and systematic screening for HCV-RNA among MSM from the SHCS. During phase B (06/2016-02/2017) we offered treatment with HCV direct-acting agents (DAAs) to MSM identified with a replicating HCV infection. During phase C (03/2017-11/2017), we offered re-screen to all MSM for HCV-RNA and initiated DAA treatment in MSM with replicating infections (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02785666). Findings We screened 3’715/4'640 (80%) MSM and identified 177 with replicating HCV infections (4.8%); 150 (85%) of which started DAA treatment and 149 (99.3%) were cured. We re-screened 2’930/3'538 (83%) MSM with a prior negative HCV-RNA and identified 13 (0.4%) with a new HCV infection. At the end of the micro-elimination program, 176/190 MSM (93%) were cured, and the HCV incidence rate declined from 0.53 per 100 patient-years (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.35, 0.83) prior to the intervention to 0.12 (CI 0.03, 0.49) by the end of 2019. Interpretation A systematic and population-based HCV micro-elimination program among MSM living with HIV was feasible and resulted in a strong decline in HCV incidence and prevalence. Our study can serve as a model for other countries aiming to achieve the WHO HCV elimination targets.

In HIV/HCV-coinfected individuals, the crude incidence of HCC increased from 2001 to 2014, while other liver events declined. Individuals with cirrhosis or low current CD4 cell count are at highest risk of developing HCC or other liver events.

While HCV exposure was associated with an increased risk of kidney disease and osteoporosis/fracture, this risk did not seem to be dependent of persistent HCV RNA. Successful HCV treatment was associated with a lower incidence of liver disease, liver-related death, and diabetes mellitus, whereas the other conditions studied were less affected.

Our study suggests that DAART, independently of CD4 cell count and risky behavior, has a potentially strong public health impact, including pre-exposure prophylaxis of HBV coinfection in the HIV infected.

Among patients with pLLV, VF was predicted by previous VF, cART regimen and VL≥200. Most patients who changed cART had undetectable VLs 48 weeks later. These findings support cART modification for pLLV>200 copies/ml.

Objectives Chemsex refers to the use of sex‐enhancing drugs among men who have sex with men (MSM) in combination with specific sexual and social behaviours. Longitudinal data on this development and the associated health risks are scarce. Methods Data on all recreational drugs reported in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS) from 2007 to 2017 were collected. Drug use was analysed longitudinally for all drug classes. In addition, potential associations between patient characteristics and the consumption of methamphetamine, γ‐hydroxybutric acid/γ‐butyrolactone (GHB/GBL), 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA/XTC), cocaine and amphetamine were analysed. Results We analysed 166 167 follow‐up entries for 12 527 SHCS participants, including 7101 free text field entries containing information about recreational drugs other than cannabis, cocaine and heroin. Overall, we observed a stable percentage (9.0%) of recreational drug use (excluding cannabis, amyl nitrite and prescription drugs). For MSM, however, there was an increase in overall drug use from 8.8% in 2007 to 13.8% in 2017, with particularly large increases for methamphetamine (from 0.2 to 2.4%; P < 0.001) and GHB/GBL (from 1.0 to 3.4%; P < 0.001). The use of each of the potentially sex‐enhancing drugs methamphetamine, GHB/GBL, cocaine, XTC/MDMA and amphetamine was significantly associated with condomless sex with nonsteady partners, and higher prevalences of depression, syphilis and hepatitis C. Conclusions The significant increase in the use of chemsex drugs among MSM in the SHCS and the strong association with coinfections and depression highlights the need for harm reduction programmes tailored to MSM. According to our results, improving knowledge about recreational drugs is important for all health care professionals working with people living with HIV.