Co‐infections and co‐morbidities among injecting drug users versus sexually infected patients in Bucharest

Abstract

IntroductionAfter the 2008 introduction of new psychoactive substances (NPS) in Romania, the number of newly diagnosed HIV infections showed significant increase among injecting drug users (IDUs). Our objective was to analyze the differences between co-infections related to the HIV infection, based on the way of transmission (IDUs versus sexually infected).Materials and MethodsA retrospective transversal study was carried out, analyzing 245 adult HIV-positive patients, diagnosed between January 2013 and December 2013 in our hospital. We collected socio-demographic, epidemiological and laboratory data at the diagnosis and analyzed them using SPSS version 20.ResultsMost patients (71%, 174/245) were men and the median age was 32 years (IQR: 26–38). 91 patients (37%) were former/active IDUs (most of them injecting both opioids and NPS), while 154 patients (63%) were sexually infected, with 84% being heterosexuals and 16% men having sex with men (MSM). The median CD4 count, at the moment of diagnosis, was 294 cells/mm3 (IQR: 119–483).Other co-infections at diagnosis were toxoplasmosis (four patients), cryptococcosis (two patients) and cytomegalovirus reactivations (three patients) without significant association between the two groups.ConclusionHeterosexual transmission was the most common way of HIV transmission in 2013 in contrast with EU/CEE, where MSM accounted for the majority of cases of HIV epidemics in 2012 [1]. Sexually transmitted HIV infection was associated with late presentation, stage C and syphilis. We noted a high percentage of IDU transmission, which was associated with stage A and hepatitis C infection.

Assessing the impact of a temporary class drug order on ethylphenidate‐related infections among people who inject drugs in Lothian, Scotland: an interrupted time–series analysis

“…In Dublin (Ireland), an outbreak of recent HIV infection among PWID was associated with a synthetic cathinone ('Snowblow'), with daily injectors being at highest risk [7]. Increases in HIV incidence among PWID in Hungary and Romania have also recently been reported, again related to emergence of NPS that require frequent injection [8,9]. In 2014, an outbreak of severe SSTIs, bacteraemias and infective endocarditis among PWID was identified in the Lothian region of Scotland.…”

Application of ‘CDC- Public security bureau-NGO’ Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism Allied AIDS Prevention and Control in Guangxi, China

“…Unprotected sex is the main cause of AIDS transmission. In addition, the age of acquiring new HIV infections has shown an uneven distribution trend and the number of infections among young students and the elderly has increased signi cantly [4][5][6]. In 2019, the number of newly diagnosed HIV infections among elderly individuals in China rose to 28,763, which represents a 500% increase from 2010.…”