title: Number of named partners and number of partners newly diagnosed with HIV infection identified by persons with acute versus established HIV infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute infections with HIV account for a disproportionate share of forward transmission in certain populations. We hypothesized that persons with acute HIV infection (AHI) would identify more named partners than those with established HIV infection (EHI).
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed North Carolina surveillance databases to identify all persons aged > or =18 years in whom HIV was diagnosed during November 1, 2002 to October 31, 2007. We compared the number of named partners identified by persons with AHI versus EHI (based on nucleic acid amplification plus serologic testing) using a multivariable model and also compared information regarding HIV testing among partners identified by these groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EHI was diagnosed in 9044 persons and AHI in 120 persons during the study period. Persons with AHI named 2.5 times more partners per index patient [95% confidence interval: 2.1 to 3.0] and 1.9 times more partners newly diagnosed with HIV infection per index patient (95% confidence interval: 1.1 to 3.5) as did persons with EHI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In North Carolina, persons with AHI identified proportionately more named partners and more partners newly diagnosed with HIV infections than persons with EHI. Improved detection of AHI offers critical opportunities to intervene and potentially reduce transmission of HIV.
authors: Epidemic Intelligence Service, CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA. zack.moore@dhhs.nc.gov
authors: Zack S
authors: ZS
authors: Moore
authors: Sandi
authors: S
authors: McCoy
authors: Joann
authors: J
authors: Kuruc
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Hilton
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Leone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016358:Contact Tracing; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D012747:Sexual Partners; D055815:Young Adult