title: Programmatic Implications of Acute and Early HIV Infection.
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection includes acute, early, chronic, and late stages. Acute HIV infection lasts approximately 3 weeks and early HIV infection, which includes acute HIV infection, lasts approximately 7 weeks. Many testing and blood screening algorithms detect HIV antibodies about 3 weeks after HIV infection. Incidence estimates are based on results of modeling, cohort studies, surveillance, and/or assays. Viral load is the key modifiable risk factor for HIV transmission and peaks during acute and early HIV infection. Empirical evidence characterizing the impact of acute and early HIV infection on the spread of the HIV epidemic are limited. Time trends of HIV prevalence collected from concentrated and generalized epidemics suggest that acute and early HIV infection may have a limited role in population HIV transmission. Collectively, these data suggest that acute and early HIV infection is relatively short and does not currently require fundamentally different programmatic approaches to manage the HIV/AIDS epidemic in most settings. Research and surveillance will inform which epidemic contexts and phases may require tailored strategies for these stages of HIV infection.
authors: South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.
authors: Amitabh B
authors: AB
authors: Suthar
authors: International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, Washington D.C.
authors: Reuben M
authors: RM
authors: Granich
authors: World Health Organization Vietnam Country Office, Hanoi.
authors: Masaya
authors: M
authors: Kato
authors: Rwanda Biomedical Center, Kigali.
authors: Sabin
authors: S
authors: Nsanzimana
authors: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada.
authors: Julio S G
authors: JS
authors: Montaner
authors: Wits Reproductive Health Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors: Brian G
authors: BG
authors: Williams
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015483:HIV Antibodies
keywords: HIV incidence; HIV testing; acute HIV infection; blood safety; early HIV infection; national strategic plan; recent HIV infection