title: [Epidemiological characteristics of new HIV infections compared with AIDS cases. The HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Basque Country].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the epidemiological characteristics of new cases of HIV infection diagnosed from 1997-2001 and compare them with AIDS cases (1991-2001).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were retrospectively collected on new cases of HIV infection detected in the Basque Country (1997-2001) and were compared with AIDS cases (1991-2001).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 912 new cases of HIV infection were diagnosed. In 299 of the new cases (32.8%), HIV and AIDS were diagnosed simultaneously. The most common mechanism of transmission was heterosexual transmission, followed by intravenous and homo/bisexual transmission. Significant epidemiological differences (p < 0.001) were found with regard to AIDS cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sexual transmission has replaced intravenous drug use as the most common mechanism of HIV transmission. A large percentage of patients were simultaneously diagnosed with HIV and AIDS, indicating the need for new prevention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Plan del Sida en el País Vasco, Osakidetza-Servicio vasco de salud, San Sebastian, Gipuzkoa, Spain. dzulaica@apge.osakidetza.net
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zulaika
authors.forename: Koldo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Agirrebengoa
authors.forename: Ander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andía
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arrizabalaga
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bustillo
authors.forename: Mari Mar
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Cámara
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corral
authors.forename: Mari Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Orive
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goikoetxea
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Iribarren
authors.forename: Josefina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López de Munain
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lorenzo
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Martín Gudino
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayo
authors.forename: Joseba
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Portu
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Silvariño
authors.forename: Zuriña
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zubero
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology