Decreased Time From Human Immunodeficiency Virus Diagnosis to Care, Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation, and Virologic Suppression during the Citywide RAPID Initiative in San Francisco.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Early virologic suppression (VS) after human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection improves individual health outcomes and decreases onward transmission. In San Francisco, immediate antiretroviral therapy (ART) at HIV diagnosis was piloted in 2013-2014 and expanded citywide in 2015 in a rapid start initiative to link all new diagnoses to care within 5 days and start ART at the first care visit.

Methods

HIV providers and linkage navigators were trained on a rapid start protocol with sites caring for vulnerable populations prioritized. Dates of HIV diagnosis, first care visit, ART initiation, and VS were abstracted from the San Francisco Department of Public Health HIV surveillance registry.

Results

During 2013-2017, among 1354 new HIV diagnoses in San Franc

SUBMITTER: Bacon O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8561247 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature