Top stories in infectious disease: Syphilis cases increase 70% in Europe, high levels of pretreatment HIV drug resistance

Among the top stories in infectious disease last week were two reports: one from the European CDC that said syphilis cases have increased 70% in the last decade and one from the World Health Organization that indicated pretreatment HIV drug resistance exceeds 10% in many places and is particularly high in women.

Other highlights included research that determined ways that electronic health records can identify candidates for HIV prevention medication, a study that found almost half of patients with HIV who are on long-term antiretroviral therapy have HIV-infected cells present in their cerebrospinal fluid and these cells are associated with poorer neurocognitive performance and a study that found bacterial species in vaginal microbiota may increase risk for Trichomonas vaginalis.

Syphilis cases reach all-time high in Europe, up 70% in 7 years

Syphilis rates in Europe have steadily increased over the past decade, reaching an all-time recorded high in 2017 with more than 33,000 cases, according to data reported by the European CDC. Read more.

World Health Organization: Pretreatment HIV drug resistance exceeds 10% in many places

Among adults initiating antiretroviral therapy, levels of pretreatment HIV drug resistance to two non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors exceeded 10% in 12 of 18 countries reporting data to WHO between 2014 and 2018, and resistance was particularly high in women, according to a new report. Read more.

EHRs can help identify potential pre-exposure prophylaxis candidates

Researchers determined ways that clinicians may be able to use electronic health records to identify candidates for HIV prevention medication. Read more.

HIV persists in cerebrospinal fluid of patients on antiretroviral therapy; linked to cognitive impairment

Almost half of patients with HIV who are on long-term antiretroviral therapy have HIV-infected cells present in their cerebrospinal fluid and these cells are associated with poorer neurocognitive performance, according to findings published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation. Read more.

Bacterial species in vaginal microbiota may increase risk for T. vaginalis

The presence of Prevotella amnii and Sneathia sanguinegens in the vaginal microbiota is significantly associated with the acquisition of Trichomonas vaginalis, according to findings published in Clinical Infectious Diseases. Read more.