title: Identification of recent HIV-1 infection among newly diagnosed cases in Catalonia, Spain (2006-08).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quantification and description of patients recently infected by HIV can provide an accurate estimate of the dynamics of HIV transmission. Between 2006 and 2008 in Catalonia, we estimated the prevalence of recent HIV infection among newly diagnosed cases, described the epidemiological characteristics of the infection according to whether it was recent, long-standing or advanced, and identified factors associated with recent infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Test for Recent Infection (TRI) was performed in serum samples from patients newly diagnosed with HIV. Two different TRI were used: the Vironostika-LS assay (January 2006-May 2007) and the BED-CEIA CEIA (June 2007 onwards). Samples were obtained within the first 6 months of diagnosis. Patients whose samples tested positive in the TRI were considered recently infected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1125 newly diagnosed patients, 79.9% were men (median age, 35.4 years), 38.7% were born outside Spain, 48.9% were men who have sex with men (MSM) and 10.6% presented other sexually transmitted infections. The overall percentage of recent infection was 23.0%, which increased significantly, from 18.1% in 2006 to 26.2% in 2008. This percentage was higher for patients from South America (27.6%). Factors associated with recent infection were acquiring infection through sexual contact between MSM [odds ratio (OR) 2.0; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.1-3.9], compared with acquiring infection through heterosexual relations and being under 30 years of age (OR 5.9; 95% CI 1.9-17.4), compared with being over 50 years of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The highest percentage of recent infection was identified in MSM, suggesting either a higher incidence or a greater frequency of HIV testing. Information regarding testing patterns is necessary to correctly interpret data from recently infected individuals. Systems to monitor the HIV epidemic should include both parameters.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Catalunya, Badalona, Spain. aromero@imim.es
authors.forename: Anabel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esteve
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martró
authors.forename: Lurdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matas
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tural
authors.forename: Tomàs
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pumarola
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casanova
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.forename: Estrella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caballero
authors.forename: Esteve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ribera
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Margall
authors.forename: Pere
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Domingo
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Farré
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Puig
authors.forename: M Goretti
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Sauca
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barrufet
authors.forename: M José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Amengual
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vilaró
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ortín
authors.forename: Amat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ortí
authors.forename: Ferran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pujol
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Prat
authors.forename: Angels
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Massabeu
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Simó
authors.forename: Carlos Alonso
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Villaverde
authors.forename: Miguel Ángel
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Benítez
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: Jasmina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Becerra
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ros
authors.forename: Roser
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rodrigo
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Miró
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Casabona
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000465:Algorithms; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult