Daily antiretroviral therapy (ART) that suppresses HIV to levels undetectable by standard blood tests is lifesaving for individuals living with HIV and prevents sexual transmission of the virus to others. The public health community must use targeted interventions, however, to do a better job of reaching populations with low levels of viral suppression, according to experts from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.
If HIV treatment as prevention is to help us reach the goal of ending the HIV epidemic in the United States, it is critical to understand, address and bridge gaps in achieving viral suppression, NIAID director Anthony S. Fauci, MD, and colleagues write in an editorial commenting on an NIH-funded study published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
The study found that rates of viral suppression among 31,930 adults receiving HIV care at eight clinical sites across the United States improved from 32 percent in 1997 to 86 percent in 2015. However, these gains were not equally distributed across different demographic and clinical populations.
As HIV treatment guidelines changed to promote early ART initiation, and as ART regimens improved, overall rates of viral suppression rose. Yet certain demographic groups, such as black people living with HIV, remained less likely to be virally suppressed. Additionally, improvements in viral suppression among heterosexual individuals and people who inject drugs plateaued from 2013 to 2015.
According to the NIAID experts, the new study brings us closer to understanding viral suppression gaps brought on by social and economic barriers to care. Fauci and colleagues call for additional research to follow up on these findings and to identify ways to address and resolve these disparities. They also note that bringing all people living with HIV into care remains a key challenge to the success of treatment as prevention efforts for which more effective strategies are needed.
As the public health community strives to end the HIV epidemic in the United States, targeted treatment interventions for populations with low levels of viral suppression, paired with tailored prevention packages, will be essential, Fauci and colleagues conclude.
The related study was supported by NIAID, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, all components of NIH.
References:
HD Marston, CW Dieffenbach, AS Fauci. Ending the HIV epidemic in the United States: closing the implementation gaps. Annals of Internal Medicine DOI: 10.7326/M18-1944 (2018).
RM Nance, JAC Delaney, JM Simoni et al. HIV viral suppression trends over time among HIV-infected patients in care in the United States, 1997-2015. Annals of Internal Medicine DOI: 10.7326/M17-2242 (2018).
Source: NIH
Stay prepared and protected with Infection Control Today's newsletter, delivering essential updates, best practices, and expert insights for infection preventionists.
Reducing Hidden Risks: Why Sharps Injuries Still Go Unreported
July 18th 2025Despite being a well-known occupational hazard, sharps injuries continue to occur in health care facilities and are often underreported, underestimated, and inadequately addressed. A recent interview with sharps safety advocate Amanda Heitman, BSN, RN, CNOR, a perioperative educational consultant, reveals why change is overdue and what new tools and guidance can help.
New Study Explores Oral Vancomycin to Prevent C difficile Recurrence, But Questions Remain
July 17th 2025A new clinical trial explores the use of low-dose oral vancomycin to prevent Clostridioides difficile recurrence in high-risk patients taking antibiotics. While the data suggest a possible benefit, the findings stop short of statistical significance and raise red flags about vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), underscoring the delicate balance between prevention and antimicrobial stewardship.
What Lies Beneath: Why Borescopes Are Essential for Verifying Surgical Instrument Cleanliness
July 16th 2025Despite their smooth, polished exteriors, surgical instruments often harbor dangerous contaminants deep inside their lumens. At the HSPA25 and APIC25 conferences, Cori L. Ofstead, MSPH, and her colleagues revealed why borescopes are an indispensable tool for sterile processing teams, offering the only reliable way to verify internal cleanliness and improve sterile processing effectiveness to prevent patient harm.
The Next Frontier in Infection Control: AI-Driven Operating Rooms
Published: July 15th 2025 | Updated: July 15th 2025Discover how AI-powered sensors, smart surveillance, and advanced analytics are revolutionizing infection prevention in the OR. Herman DeBoard, PhD, discusses how these technologies safeguard sterile fields, reduce SSIs, and help hospitals balance operational efficiency with patient safety.
Targeting Uncertainty: Why Pregnancy May Be the Best Time to Build Vaccine Confidence
July 15th 2025New national survey data reveal high uncertainty among pregnant individuals—especially first-time parents—about vaccinating their future children, underscoring the value of proactive engagement to strengthen infection prevention.