human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Reducing transmission of in the United States requires new strategies, including emphasis on prevention of transmission by HIV-infected persons. Through ongoing attention to prevention, risky sexual and needle-sharing behaviors among persons with HIV infection can be reduced and transmission of HIV infection prevented. Medical care providers can substantially affect HIV transmission by screening their HIV-infected patients for risk behaviors; communicating prevention messages; discussing sexual and drug-use behavior; positively reinforcing changes to safer behavior; referring patients for services such as substance abuse treatment; facilitating partner notification, counseling, and testing; and identifying and treating other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
To help incorporate HIV prevention into the medical care of HIV-infected persons, CDC, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and the HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America developed these recommendations. The recommendations are general and apply to incorporating HIV prevention into the medical care of all HIV-infected adolescents and adults, regardless of age, sex, or race/ethnicity. They are intended for all persons who provide medical care to HIV-infected persons (e.g., physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, physician assistants); they might also be useful to those who deliver prevention messages (e.g., case managers, social workers, health educators).
The recommendations were developed by using an evidence-based approach. For each recommendation, the strength of the recommendation, the quality of available evidence supporting the recommendation, and the outcome for which the recommendation is rated are provided. The recommendations are categorized into three major components: screening for HIV transmission risk behaviors and STDs, providing brief behavioral risk-reduction interventions in the office setting and referring selected patients for additional prevention interventions and other related services, and facilitating notification and counseling of sex and needle-sharing partners of infected persons.
Introduction by HIV-infected persons (2,3). HIV-infected persons who are aware of their HIV infection tend to reduce behaviors that
Despite substantial advances in the treatment of human might transmit HIV to others (4–7). Nonetheless, recent immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, the estimated numreports suggest that such behavioral changes often are not mainber of annual new HIV infections in the United States has tained and that a substantial number of HIV-infected persons remained at 40,000 for over 10 years (1). HIV prevention in continue to engage in behaviors that place others at risk forthis country has largely focused on persons who are not HIV HIV infection (8–13).
infected, to help them avoid becoming infected. However, fur-Reversion to risky sexual behavior might be as important in ther reduction of HIV transmission will require new strate-HIV transmission as failure to adopt safer sexual behavior gies, including increased emphasis on preventing transmission
immediately after receiving a diagnosis of HIV (14). Unprotected anal sex appears to be occurring more frequently in some urban centers, particularly among young men who have sex
The material in this report originated in the National Center for HIV,
with men (MSM) (15). Bacterial and viral sexually transmit-
STD and TB Prevention, Harold W. Jaffe, M.D., Director; Division of
ted diseases (STDs) in HIV-infected men and women receiv-
HIV/AIDS Prevention — Surveillance and Epidemiology, Robert S.
Janssen, Director; Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention — Intervention, ing outpatient care have been increasingly noted (16,17),
Research, and Support, Robert S. Janssen, M.D., Acting Director.
indicating ongoing risky behaviors and opportunities for HIV