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Background: Infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) has been shown to be more prevalent and persistent in female adolescents with HIV. However, data among male adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV (PHIV) are limited., Setting: We investigated the incidence and persistence of HR-HPV in anogenital compartments and associated factors among PHIV in comparison to HIV-uninfected (HU) male adolescents in Thailand., Methods: PHIV and HU males aged 12-24 years were enrolled. At baseline and 3 subsequent annual visits, specimens from the scrotum, penis, and anal area were obtained for HPV and other testing., Results: From June 2013 to October 2017, 49 PHIV and 47 HU male adolescents with a median age of 18 (interquartile range 17-20) years were enrolled. PHIV had higher incidence of any HR-HPV infection than HU adolescents {33.05 [95% confidence interval (CI): 20.82 to 52.46] vs. 15.73 [95% CI: 8.18 to 30.22] per 100 person-years, P = 0.04}. The persistence of any HR-HPV genotypes (detected at ≥2 annual visits) was not different by group (PHIV 27% vs. HU 23%, P = 0.75). Having ≥3 sex partners in past 6 months (adjusted prevalence ratio 2.39, 95% CI: 1.14 to 5.05; P = 0.02) and co-infection with other sexually transmitted infections (syphilis, chlamydia, and/or gonorrhea) were associated with persistent HR-HPV infection (adjusted prevalence ratio 6.21, 95% CI: 2.87 to 13.41; P < 0.001)., Conclusions: Thai PHIV male adolescents had a higher incidence of HR-HPV infection than those without HIV. Having multiple sex partners and co-infection with sexually transmitted infections was associated with persistent HR-HPV infection. These data demonstrate the need to prioritize PHIV male adolescents in routine and catch-up HPV vaccination programs.

Background: HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) have a higher prevalence of anal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and anal cancer incidence than HIV-negative MSM. High-risk HPV persistence is an important risk factor for the development of anal cancer., Methods: A total of 123 HIV-positive and 123 HIV-negative MSM were enrolled from the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre in Bangkok, Thailand, and followed for 12 months. Anal sample collection for HPV genotyping was performed at every visit. HPV prevalence, incidence, clearance, and persistence were calculated. A logistic regression model was used to study factors associated with high-risk HPV persistence., Results: The prevalence of any anal HPV infection was 85% in HIV-positive and 58.5% in HIV-negative MSM (P < 0.0001). The prevalence of high-risk HPV infection was 57.5% in HIV-positive and 36.6% in HIV-negative MSM (P = 0.001). HPV 16 was the most common high-risk HPV type. HIV-positive MSM had a higher prevalence (22.5% vs. 9.8%, P = 0.008) and persistence (16.7% vs. 1.3%, P < 0.001) of HPV 16 than HIV-negative MSM and a trend for higher incidence (16.1 vs. 6.1 episodes/1000 person-months, incidence rate ratio 2.6, P = 0.058). HIV infection (odds ratio: 4.45, 95% confidence interval: 2.11 to 9.4, P < 0.001) and smoking in HIV-positive MSM (odds ratio: 2.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.17 to 4.5, P = 0.015) were independently associated with high-risk HPV persistence in multivariate models., Conclusions: In addition to targeting HIV-positive MSM who are at higher risk for anal, high-risk HPV persistence, anal cancer prevention programs should also integrate behavioral interventions such as smoking cessation to modify risk for high-risk HPV persistence.

Background: Anal cytology has increasingly been used to screen for anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) among men who have sex with men (MSM) at increased risk for anal cancer. Use of liquid-based cytology has been reported to reduce fecal and bacterial contamination and air-drying artifact compared with conventional cytology. Costs associated with liquid-based cytology, however, may limit its use in resource-limited settings., Methods: Anal swab samples were collected from MSM participants and used to prepare conventional and liquid-based cytology slides. Abnormal conventional cytology results triggered referral for high-resolution anoscopy and biopsy. Agreement between the 2 cytology techniques and the positive predictive value ratios of histology confirmed AIN were calculated., Results: Among 173 MSM, abnormal anal cytology was identified in 46.2% of conventional and 32.4% of liquid-based slides. The results agreed in 62.4% of cases with a κ value of 0.49 (P < 0.001). HIV-infected MSM had a 3.6-fold increased odds of having discordant anal cytology results (95% confidence interval: 1.6 to 7.8; P = 0.001) compared with HIV-uninfected MSM. Histological AIN 2 and 3 were identified in 20 MSM. The positive predictive value ratios and 95% confidence interval indicated no difference between the 2 techniques., Conclusions: Conventional anal cytology may be a preferred option for resource-limited settings given comparable performances to liquid-based cytology for the detection of AIN, although the agreement between the 2 techniques was lower among HIV-infected MSM. Due to high prevalence of abnormal anal cytology and AIN, health systems should prepare adequate infrastructure for high-resolution anoscopy services and AIN treatment.

Background: Tuberculin skin test (TST) identifies patients highly likely to benefit from isoniazid preventive therapy and tuberculosis (TB) prevalence may differ by TST status. We evaluated latent and active TB screening and diagnosis strategies among people living with HIV (PLHIV) incorporating TST as the initial screening step., Methods: PLHIV attending services at the Thai Red Cross Anonymous Clinic during September 2006 to January 2008 were enrolled. TB disease was defined as any positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) specimen culture from sputum, urine, stool, lymph node aspiration, and blood. The performance of symptom screening (>1 of: any cough, any fever, night sweats lasting 3 or more weeks in the preceding 4 weeks) and laboratory screening (sputum smear followed by chest radiography and CD4 count) for active TB disease were evaluated according to TST status., Results: We enrolled 604 PLHIV. TST was positive in 151 PLHIV (25.0%). TB disease was diagnosed in 33 PLHIV, including 22 (14.6%) TST-positive and 11 (2.4%) TST-negative PLHIV. We found that an approach of performing MTB culture for all TST-positive PLHIV and symptom screening followed by laboratory screening for all TST-negative PLHIV would identify 196 (32.4%) of 604 PLHIV who would need MTB culture to correctly diagnose 29 (87.9%) of 33 active TB cases., Conclusions: TST can be used as an initial screening test among PLHIV to identify those at highest risk of active TB disease. Access to MTB culture or other sensitive tests to exclude TB disease is urgently needed to improve TB screening and prevention in resource-limited settings.

Background: Low CD4 count at antiretroviral therapy initiation is common both in developed and developing countries. Active voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) center with integrated CD4 count service may facilitate early HIV testing and CD4 count measurement., Method: We analyzed data from clients who had HIV testing at our VCT center between June 1, 2006 to May 31, 2009. HIV testing was provided through routine VCT, health check-up, nutrition, and sexual health services. CD4 count measurement was available in the clinic. The first CD4 count and duration between HIV diagnosis and the first CD4 count measurement were extracted from the database along with available demographic data., Results: Among 19,525 Thai clients who had HIV testing, 2580 clients (13.2%) were tested HIV positive for the first time. CD4 count measurement was performed in 73.3% of HIV-positive clients and 91.4% of these occurred within the first month of HIV diagnosis. Median first CD4 count was 287.0 (IQR = 114.0-434.3) cells per cubic millimeter, 62% had CD4 count <350 cells per cubic millimeter., Conclusions: As HIV programs are moving toward earlier initiation of antiretroviral therapy, efforts are needed to promote "early HIV testing" among general population with different levels of HIV risks and to enhance "early CD4 count measurement" after HIV diagnosis.