Victoria Mobley

No one's at home and they won't pick up the phone: using the Internet and text messaging to enhance partner services in North Carolina.

Background The Internet and mobile devices are increasingly used by men who have sex with men to find potential partners. Lack of partner information, besides e-mail addresses or user profiles, limits the ability to adequately perform partner notification by traditional means and test those at high risk. To streamline North Carolina Internet Partner Notification (IPN) services, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill collaborated with the North Carolina Division of Public Health beginning in July 2011 to formalize state IPN and text messaging for partner notification (txtPN) policies and centralize notification practices by designating a single IPN/txtPN field coordinator within the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Methods We compared the number of IPN and txtPN contacts initiated and their outcomes in July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012, and compared with outcomes in January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2010, the year before the collaboration. Results Overall, 362 IPN contacts were initiated compared with 133 initiated in 2010. More than half (59.1%) were black; mean age was 28.8 years. Almost all were men who have sex with men (83.7%). Approximately two-thirds (n = 230; 63.5%) of contacts were successfully notified using centralized IPN. Seven new cases of HIV infection, 11 new cases of syphilis, and 19 known previous HIV-positive persons were identified. Text messaging for partner notification was used for 29 contacts who did not initially respond to traditional notification or IPN; 14 (48%) responded to txtPN in a median time of 57.5 minutes (interquartile range, 9–2708). Conclusions Centralization of IPN services augmented partner detection of new HIV and syphilis diagnoses. Text messaging for partner notification represents a potentially effective method for augmenting traditional partner services. In addition, IPN and txtPN allow identification of HIV-infected persons in need of linkage to care.

Ocular Syphilis — Eight Jurisdictions, United States, 2014–2015

Ocular syphilis, a manifestation of Treponema pallidum infection, can cause a variety of ocular signs and symptoms, including eye redness, blurry vision, and vision loss. Although syphilis is nationally notifiable, ocular manifestations are not reportable to CDC. Syphilis rates have increased in the United States since 2000. After ocular syphilis clusters were reported in early 2015, CDC issued a clinical advisory (1) in April 2015 and published a description of the cases in October 2015 (2). Because of concerns about an increase in ocular syphilis, eight jurisdictions (California, excluding Los Angeles and San Francisco, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, New York City, North Carolina, Texas, and Washington) reviewed syphilis surveillance and case investigation data from 2014, 2015, or both to ascertain syphilis cases with ocular manifestations. A total of 388 suspected ocular syphilis cases were identified, 157 in 2014 and 231 in 2015. Overall, among total syphilis surveillance cases in the jurisdictions evaluated, 0.53% in 2014 and 0.65% in 2015 indicated ocular symptoms. Five jurisdictions described an increase in suspected ocular syphilis cases in 2014 and 2015. The predominance of cases in men (93%), proportion of those who are men who have sex with men (MSM), and percentage who are HIV-positive (51%) are consistent with the epidemiology of syphilis in the United States. It is important for clinicians to be aware of potential visual complications related to syphilis infections. Prompt identification of potential ocular syphilis, ophthalmologic evaluation, and appropriate treatment are critical to prevent or manage visual symptoms and sequelae of ocular syphilis.

The North Carolina HIV bridge counselor program: Outcomes from a statewide level intervention to link and reengage HIV-infected persons in care in the south

Background: To improve the HIV continuum of care, a team of field service interventionists (State Bridge Counselors, SBC) was developed through a state public health system and provided brief (1–2) contacts for linkage of newly diagnosed persons with HIV and reengagement of persons living with HIV (PLWH) who were not in care. Setting: North Carolina, United States. Methods: Service data from January 2013 to June 2015 were analyzed to determine characteristics of clients referred to SBCs, proportions linked or reengaged in care, and/or achieved viral load suppression (VLs). We evaluated associations between client characteristics and outcomes using multivariable analyses and estimated odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: SBCs provided linkage services to 299 newly diagnosed individuals and reengagement services to 606 PLWH throughout North Carolina. Among persons who received linkage services, 189 (63%) had evidence of care within 90 days of referral and 205 (69%) had VLs within a year. Among PLWH who received reengagement services, 278 (46%) had care within 90 days and 308 (51%) had VLs within a year. Persons aged 30–39 years (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1 to 3.9) and 40–49 years had an increased likelihood (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.1 to 5.2) of linkage within 90 days compared with persons aged 18–29 years. Non-white PLWH had an increased OR of 1.7; (95% CI, 1.2 to 2.5) of reengagement compared with whites. Conclusions: Our SBC program successfully implemented a “low-touch” approach to provision of linkage and reengagement services, demonstrating that public health resources can be used to address the HIV care continuum on a statewide level.

Hepatitis B Reverse Seroconversion and Transmission in a Hemodialysis Center: A Public Health Investigation and Case Report.

In March 2013, public health authorities were notified of a new hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a patient receiving hemodialysis. We investigated to identify the source and prevent additional infections. We reviewed medical records, interviewed the index patient regarding hepatitis B risk factors, performed HBV molecular analysis, and observed infection control practices at the outpatient hemodialysis facility where she received care. The index patients only identified hepatitis B risk factor was hemodialysis treatment. The facility had no other patients with known active HBV infection. One patient had evidence of a resolved HBV infection. Investigation of this individual, who was identified as the source patient, indicated that HBV reverse seroconversion and reactivation had occurred in the setting of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection and a failed kidney transplant. HBV whole genome sequences analysis from the index and source patients indicated 99.9% genetic homology. Facility observations revealed multiple infection control breaches. Inadequate dilution of the source patients sample during HBV testing might have led to a false-negative result, delaying initiation of hemodialysis in isolation. In conclusion, HBV transmission occurred after an HIV-positive hemodialysis patient with transplant-related immunosuppression experienced HBV reverse seroconversion and reactivation. Providers should be aware of this possibility, especially among severely immunosuppressed patients, and maintain stringent infection control.

HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Implementation at Local Health Departments: A Statewide Assessment of Activities and Barriers

Background: Expanding access to HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) could help reduce rates of HIV infection in the United States. This study characterizes activities and barriers to PrEP implementation at local health departments (LHDs) in North Carolina (NC), which contains a large rural population. Methods: In May 2016, a web-based survey was distributed to health directors of all county and district health departments in NC to assess PrEP-related activities, perceived barriers to PrEP implementation, and desired PrEP-related resources. Results: Of 85 LHDs in NC, 56 (66%) responded to the survey. Of these, 2 (4%) reported PrEP prescribing and 7 (13%) externally referred for PrEP services. Among the 54 departments not prescribing PrEP, the most frequently cited reasons were cost concerns (n = 25, 46%), lack of formal prescribing protocols (n = 21, 39%), and belief that PrEP would be better managed at primary care or specialty clinics (n = 19, 35%). Among the 47 departments not prescribing or referring clients for PrEP, the most frequently cited reasons for the lack of PrEP referral were the absence of local PrEP providers (n = 29, 62%), lack of PrEP knowledge among staff (n = 13, 28%), and perceived lack of PrEP candidates (n = 12, 26%). The most frequently requested PrEP-related resources included training to help identify PrEP candidates (n = 39, 70%) and training on PrEP prescribing and management (n = 38, 68%). Conclusions: PrEP prescribing and referral among LHDs in NC remains extremely limited. Increased PrEP-related training and support for LHD-based providers could enhance PrEP access, especially in rural and underserved areas.

Distance to testing sites and its association with timing of HIV diagnosis

ABSTRACT Early HIV diagnosis enables prompt treatment initiation, thereby contributing to decreased morbidity, mortality, and transmission. We aimed to describe the association between distance from residence to testing sites and HIV disease stage at diagnosis. Using HIV surveillance data, we identified all new HIV diagnoses made at publicly funded testing sites in central North Carolina during 2005–2013. Early-stage HIV was defined as acute HIV (antibody-negative test with a positive HIV RNA) or recent HIV (normalized optical density <0.8 on the BED assay for non-AIDS cases); remaining diagnoses were considered post-early-stage HIV. Street distance between residence at diagnosis and (1) the closest testing site and (2) the diagnosis site was dichotomized at 5 miles. We fit log-binomial models using generalized estimating equations to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and robust 95% confidence intervals (CI) for post-early-stage diagnoses by distance. Models were adjusted for race/ethnicity and testing period. Most of the 3028 new diagnoses were black (N = 2144; 70.8%), men who have sex with men (N = 1685; 55.7%), and post-early-stage HIV diagnoses (N = 2010; 66.4%). Overall, 1145 (37.8%) cases traveled <5 miles for a diagnosis. Among cases traveling ≥5 miles for a diagnosis, 1273 (67.6%) lived <5 miles from a different site. Residing ≥5 miles from a testing site was not associated with post-early-stage HIV (adjusted PR, 95% CI: 0.98, 0.92–1.04), but traveling ≥5 miles for a diagnosis was associated with higher post-early HIV prevalence (1.07, 1.02–1.13). Most of the elevated prevalence observed in cases traveling ≥5 miles for a diagnosis occurred among those living <5 miles from a different site (1.09, 1.03–1.16). Modest increases in post-early-stage HIV diagnosis were apparent among persons living near a site, but choosing to travel longer distances to test. Understanding reasons for increased travel distances could improve accessibility and acceptability of HIV services and increase early diagnosis rates.

The Number of Interviews Needed to Yield New Syphilis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Cases Among Partners of People Diagnosed With Syphilis, North Carolina, 2015

Compare syphilis investigation yield among patient groups using number needed to interview. Goal To increase investigation efficiency. Study Design Retrospective review of North Carolina 2015 syphilis investigations, using the number of cases needed to interview (NNTI) and the total number of cases and contacts needed to interview (TNTI) to compare yield of new syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus diagnoses between patient groups. Results We reviewed 1646 early syphilis cases and 2181 contacts; these yielded 241 new syphilis cases (NNTI, 6.9; TNTI, 16.4) and 38 new human immunodeficiency virus cases (NNTI, 43). Interviews of women (prevalence difference [PD] = 6%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 12–16), patients <30 years old (PD = 5%, 95% CI, 1–8), and patients with titer >1:16 (PD = 5%, 95% CI, 1–9) yielded more new syphilis cases in our adjusted model; no other patient factors increased investigation yield. Conclusions The NNTI and TNTI are useful measures of efficiency. Prioritizing early syphilis investigation by gender, rapid plasmin reagin titer, and age provides small increases in efficiency; no other factors increased efficiency.

Integration of contact tracing and phylogenetics in an investigation of acute HIV infection

Background The integration of traditional contact tracing with HIV sequence analyses offers opportunities to mitigate some of the barriers to effective network construction. We used combined analyses during an outbreak investigation of spatiotemporally clustered acute HIV infections to evaluate if the observed clustering was the product of a single outbreak. Methods We investigated acute and recent HIV index cases reported in North Carolina from 2013 to 2014 and their reported contacts. Contact tracing networks were constructed with surveillance data and compared with phylogenetic transmission clusters involving an index case using available HIV-1 pol sequences including 1672 references. Clusters were defined as clades of 2 or more sequences with a less than 1.5% genetic distance and a bootstrap of at least 98% on maximum-likelihood phylogenies. Results In total, 68 index cases and 210 contacts (71 HIV infected) were reported. The contact tracing network involved 58 components with low overall density (1.2% statewide); 33% of first-degree contacts could not be located. Among 38 (56%) of 68 index cases and 34 (48%) of 71 contacts with sequences, 13 phylogenetic clusters were identified (size 2–4 members). Four clusters connected network components that were not linked in contact tracing. The largest component (n = 28 cases) included 2 distinct phylogenetic clusters and spanned 2 regions. Conclusions We identified the concurrent expansion of multiple small transmission clusters rather than a single outbreak in a largely disconnected contact tracing network. Integration of phylogenetic analyses provided timely information on transmission networks during the investigation. Our findings highlight the potential of combined methods to better identify high-risk networks for intervention.