A simple algorithm for selecting cases to investigate acute and early HIV infections in low- and middle-income countries.

Abstract

We documented the outcome of an over 10-year (2011-2021) effort to diagnose acute and early HIV infections (AEHI) in an Infectious Diseases Outpatient Clinic with limited resources. Of a total of 132, 119 HIV-RNA tests were performed from 2017-2020, 12 cases were identified, using a simple algorithm: risk exposure of six weeks or less before the visit and/or symptoms compatible with acute retroviral syndrome 7-30 days after exposure and/or undetermined 3rd generation rapid diagnostic test or serology. AEHI diagnoses varied from 2.4% among asymptomatic to 25% for undetermined serology cases using this simple screening applicable to different settings. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.