Topic:  Antiretroviral Therapy Lenacapavir (LEN) is a novel investigational long-acting injectable ARV that is administered every 6 months by subcutaneous (SC) injection. It is an HIV-1 capsid inhibitor that acts at several points in the HIV life cycle. As a novel class, has full activity against viruses with resistance to the NRTI, NNRTI, PI, or INSTI classes.  Recent conferences gave us the chance to see early results from two small studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of LEN – one in highly treatment-experienced persons (CAPELLA) and the other in treatment-naïve persons (CAL ..read more

Topic:  Antiretroviral Therapy The FLAIR study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the long-acting injectable regimen of cabotegravir (CAB) + rilpivirine (RPV) in previously ART-naïve individuals who switched to CAB+RPV after viral suppression on a standard 3-drug oral regimen (dolutegravir [DTG]/ABC/3TC). At both 48 weeks (the primary endpoint) and 96 weeks, CAB+RPV given once monthly as an intramuscular injection was found to be non-inferior to DTG/ABC/3TC. At the International AIDS Society 2021 meeting, investigators presented week 124 efficacy and safety data on the CAB+RPV arm ..read more

Topic:  Antiretroviral Therapy TANGO is a randomized open-label study in which subjects with virologic suppression on standard 3-drug TAF-based ART either switched to the 2-drug regimen of dolutegravir (DTG)/lamivudine (3TC) n = 369) or continued their baseline ART (n = 372). Previously published data showed no significant difference between the regimens in viral suppression at 48 weeks. At the recent International AIDS Society and IDWeek meetings, researchers presented week 144 data on efficacy, safety, and select metabolic outcomes. The TANGO study population was >90% male ..read more

Topic:  Sexually Transmitted Infections While sexually transmitted infections (STIs) affect individuals of all ages, STIs take a hefty toll on young adults with HIV in Washington, DC. Despite continual public health efforts to reduce the rate of new STI infections, adolescents and young adults persist as the majority of new STI diagnoses. Likewise, young adults commonly experience or are in fear of experiencing STI-related stigma and social judgments that prevent them from obtaining the care they need. STI-related stigma may affect young adults' emotional well-being and mental health, des ..read more

Topic:  Sexually Transmitted Infections Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) are the two most common bacterial sexually transmitted infections in the United States. The incidence of CT and GC have increased consistently since 2014, and current rates are at an all-time high. CT and GC infections are treatable with antibiotics. However, there is a risk for severe health consequences such as chronic pain, reproductive health complications, and increased risk of HIV transmission when individuals do not get properly diagnosed and treated for these infections. Given the inc ..read more

Topic:  Oral Health With the current increase in COVID-19 cases in the United States (U.S.), this information will benefit not just dentists but all healthcare providers. As of December 20, 2020, the following states are permitting dentists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine: Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Oregon, and West Virginia. The following states are allowing dentists to administer the influenza vaccine: Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Oregon, and West Virginia. States that allow dentists to perform COVID-19 testing or order COVID-19 testing: Arizona, Connecticut ..read more

Topic:  Oral Health Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, many adults faced barriers to receiving oral health care, increasing their risk of infection and the need for emergency hospital visits. And now, as unmet dental needs worsen while the pandemic lingers and people suffer the loss of jobs and dental insurance, providers could see a surge in oral disease among adults. The prospects for this spike emerged from a recent, nationally representative survey of 5,320 adults commissioned by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. The survey identified several troubling, simultaneous developments ..read more

Topic:  Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) HIV Care Tools combines the most up-to-date, HIV screening, prevention, and care resources in one mobile app, to provide access to essential point-of-care information and expert clinical support with just one touch. HIV Care Tools is for busy clinicians from novice-to-expert, clinic staff & team members, pharmacists, and health profession students, residents & fellows. It can be used in a range of clinical settings including emergency departments, primary care, and STD & reproductive health clinics. The app is efficient, easy to use, free ..read more

Topic:  COVID-19 Study shows SARS-CoV-2 infection risk at the dentist’s office is low. A new study’s findings dispel the misconception that patients and providers are at high risk of catching COVID-19 at the dentist’s office. SARS-CoV-2 spreads mainly through respiratory droplets, and dental procedures are known to produce an abundance of aerosols – leading to fears that flying saliva during a cleaning or a restorative procedure could make the dentist’s chair a high-transmission location. Ohio State University researchers set out to determine whether saliva is the main source of the ..read more

Topic:  Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors' (NASTAD) Center for Innovation and Engagement (CIE)  As public health professionals, educators, and HIV care providers, it is imperative that we develop truly innovative approaches to address the health and social needs of communities and advance health equity. NASTAD, a leading non-partisan non-profit association that represents public health officials who administer HIV and hepatitis programs in the U.S, is committed to dismantling systemic barriers to care, recognizing social justice ..read more