Transmission route and reasons for HIV testing among recently diagnosed HIV patients in HIV-TR cohort, 2011-2012.
BACKGROUND
Routes of transmission and reasons for HIV testing are important epidemiologic data to analyze the epidemic and to tailor the response to AIDS. The aim of this study was to analyze reasons for testing and transmission ways of HIV among recently diagnosed HIV patients registered in the multicenter HIV-TR cohort in Turkey.


METHODS
Transmission ways and reasons for testing of all patients diagnosed in 2011 and 2012 were recorded on a web-based data collection system and were analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
The study included 693 patients (561 male, 132 female) from 24 sites. Reason for HIV testing was available in 640 patients (92%). The most common reason for HIV testing was diagnostic workout for other conditions or illness followed by patient-initiated testing. The reasons for testing were listed in Table 1. The most common routes of HIV transmission were heterosexual intercourse (62.7%) and sex among men who have sex with men (MSM) (22.6%). At the time of HIV diagnosis, the mean CD4 lymphocyte cell count was 355/mm(3) (3-1433/mm(3)). Primary HIV infection was determined in 42/693 (6%) patients and 9/693 (% 1, 2) cases were considered "probable primary HIV infection." The majority of the cases presented to a clinic for follow-up right after the diagnosis. On the other hand 32/616 (5.2%) patients delayed their presentation for more than 3 months. The longest delay was 11 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the database suggest that targeted testing is lacking in the country. The shift toward homosexual transmission during the last 2 years emphasizes the need for targeted interventions. Patients present relatively late and HIV infection could only be diagnosed when immunosuppression related findings appeared. Patient-initiated testing,an indicator of awareness, was very low suggesting a need to scale-up awareness raising interventions.
Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Ankara Numune Education Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Basak
B
Dokuzoguz
Infectious Diseases, Marmara University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Volkan
V
Korten
Infectious Diseases, Ege University Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
Deniz
D
Gökengin
Infectious Diseases, Istanbul Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Muzaffer
M
Fincanci
Infectious Diseases, Okmeydaný Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Taner
T
Yildirmak
Infectious Diseases, Þiþli Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Uzun Nuray
UN
Kes
Infectious Diseases, 19 Mayýs University Hospital, Samsun, Turkey.
Nuriye
N
Tasdelen Fisgin
Infectious Diseases, Akdeniz University Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
Dilara
D
Inan
Infectious Diseases, Istanbul Medical School, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Haluk
H
Eraksoy
Infectious Diseases, Uludað University Hospital, Bursa, Turkey.
Halis
H
Akalin