Prospective Evaluation of Routine Statewide Integration of Molecular Epidemiology and Contact Tracing to Disrupt Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a global challenge and novel measures for transmission disruption are needed. Contact tracing is limited by reluctance or inability of newly diagnosed individuals to name at-risk contacts. Molecular cluster analysis is mostly used for outbreak investigations, and its role in routine public health activities remains uncertain.

Methods

We conducted a 2-year prospective statewide study in Rhode Island to evaluate integration of HIV cluster analyses into routine contact tracing, by attempting to reinterview all new diagnoses who clustered, notifying them of clustering, and evaluating benefits of this strategy. Clustering was compared between a phylogenetic ensemble versus distance-based HIV-TRACE.

Results

Of 100 new di

SUBMITTER: Kantor R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11521326 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature