title: [The HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Province of Sassari in the combination antiretroviral therapy era].
abstract: Combined antiretroviral therapy has reduced both AIDS mortality and morbidity. An unknown proportion of patients is identified early and starts therapy before developing AIDS, thus escaping epidemiological surveillance. For this reason it is important to monitor the trend of new diagnoses of HIV infection. From the comparison of patients living in the Province of Sassari with new diagnoses of HIV infection or AIDS in the period 1997-2003 some differences emerge. Males are the most affected, but the difference tends to decrease among new HIV cases. Sexual contact is the most common route of transmission among new HIV diagnoses, whereas the parenteral route prevails among AIDS cases. An increase in the percentage of foreigners has been found only among new HIV cases. The difference found between new AIDS and HIV cases emphasises the importance to implement HIV infection based surveillance systems, in order to better guide informative campaigns and other interventions.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Malattie Infettive, Università degli Studi, Sassari. giordano.madeddu@uniss.it.
authors.forename: Giordano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Madeddu
authors.forename: Giovanna Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Calia
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lovigu
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mannazzu
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Maida
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Babudieri
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rezza
authors.forename: Maria Stella
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mura
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies