title: Early diagnosis and retention in care of HIV-infected patients through rapid salivary testing: a test-and-treat fast track pilot study.
abstract: Aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the retention-in-care of individuals diagnosed during six years of salivary HIV testing (EASY-test project). Among those linked-to-care at the Infectious Diseases Department of San Raffaele Hospital (Milan, Italy), the proportion of patients engaged, retained in care and virologically suppressed after the antiretroviral treatment was 96%, 100% and 95.2%, respectively. Results from our study suggest that salivary HIV testing may help bring to light cases of HIV infection otherwise undiagnosed, and thus favour a more rapid and wider reduction of the HIV infection burden at the population level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Rita
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.affiliation: Medicine of Laboratory Service, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Soldini
authors.affiliation: ANLAIDS Lombardia, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Negri
authors.affiliation: Prevention Department - Reference Centre for HIV and STDs, Local Public Health Unit, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Marino
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Vidoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gianotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nozza
authors.affiliation: AIRON Communication, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schlusnus
authors.affiliation: Medicine of Laboratory Service, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dorigatti
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lazzarin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012463:Saliva / Q000821:virology; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: HAART; HIV; HIV salivary testing; HIV virological suppression; Retention in care