PLoS ONE (Jan 2008)

Elevated risk for HIV-1 infection in adolescents and young adults in São Paulo, Brazil.

  • Katia Cristina Bassichetto,
  • Denise Pimentel Bergamaschi,
  • Solange Maria Oliveira,
  • Marylei Casteldelli Verri Deienno,
  • Reginaldo Bortolato,
  • Heloíza Vilma de Rezende,
  • Thaís Arthur,
  • Helena Tomiyama,
  • Colyn Watkins,
  • Fabio Mesquita,
  • Maria Cristina Abbate,
  • Esper Georges Kallas

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0001423
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 1
p. e1423

Abstract

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BackgroundRecent studies have sought to describe HIV infection and transmission characteristics around the world. Identification of early HIV-1 infection is essential to proper surveillance and description of regional transmission trends. In this study we compare people recently infected (RI) with HIV-1, as defined by Serologic Testing Algorithm for Recent HIV Seroconversion (STARHS), to those with chronic infection.Methodology/principal findingsSubjects were identified from 2002-2004 at four testing sites in São Paulo. Of 485 HIV-1-positive subjects, 57 (12%) were defined as RI. Of the participants, 165 (34.0%) were aware of their serostatus at the time of HIV-1 testing. This proportion was statistically larger (p59 years-old age strata (pConclusions/significanceIn this study, we evaluated RI individuals and discovered that HIV-1 has been spreading among younger individuals in São Paulo and preventive approaches should, therefore, target this age stratum.