Adult Guidelines

AU Comment: Australian data on rates of virological suppression Data from the 2022 Annual Surveillance Report estimates at the end of 2021, there were 29 460 people living with HIV in Australia. Of these an estimated 91% (26 830) had been diagnosed. Of those diagnosed at the end of 2021, an estimated 96% (25 820) …

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This section has information on Limitations to Treatment Safety & Efficacy. Please click on the below links or follow the table of contents to access the information you are looking for. Cost Considerations and ART Adherence to the Continuum of Care Adverse Effects of ARV Agents

AU Comment: Timing of ART commencement in OIs Data on when to commence ART in HIV patients with an opportunistic infection (OI) are mostly derived from studies undertaken in resource-limited countries where medical care and patient follow-up may be different to Australia. In general, ART should be commenced within 2 weeks of commencing treatment for …

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AU Comment: Hepatitis C Treatment in the Australian Context The PBS lists the following all-oral pan genotypic regimens for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection in Australia, regardless of liver disease stage or ongoing drug and alcohol use. Treatment naïve: Sofosbuvir  + Velpatasvir OR Glecaprevir + Pibrentasvir Treatment experienced: sofosbuvir+velpatasvir+ voxilaprevir (Vosevi) Regimens should …

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AU Comment: Australian epidemiology Approximately 5% of Australia’s 26,500 people with HIV also have chronic hepatitis B. Reference: GESA Australian consensus recommendations for the management of hepatitis B infection Panel’s Recommendations Regarding Hepatitis B Virus/ HIV Coinfection Panel’s Recommendations Before initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART), all patients who test positive for hepatitis B surface antigen …

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This section has information on Considerations for Antiretroviral Use in Patients with Coinfections. Please click on the below links or follow the table of contents to access the information you are looking for. TB/HIV HBV/HIV HCV/HIV

AU Comment: HPV screening in women with HIV In Australia, the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) guidelines recommend to the general population that cytological screening is replaced with 5 yearly HPV testing, with reflex liquid-based cytology and genotyping for positive samples. HIV-positive women have a higher incidence of cervical cancer and HPV-associated precancerous changes, and …

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AU Comment: Transgender People with HIV in Australia. The barriers to engaging in care that trans and gender diverse (TGD) people face are universal and result from stigma, structural barriers and previous negative experiences of health care. Although accurate data regarding the number of TGD people in Australia is lacking, a recent analysis identified an …

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Key Considerations and Recommendations Substance use disorders (SUDs) are prevalent among people with HIV and contribute to poor health outcomes; therefore, screening for SUDs should be a routine part of clinical care (AII). The most commonly used substances among people with HIV include alcohol, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, club drugs, opioids, stimulants (cocaine and methamphetamines), and tobacco. Health …

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AU Comment: Australian Cardiovascular risk calculator An HIV-specific cardiovascular risk calculator has been developed based on data from the D:A:D study (including the use of specific antiretroviral agents), but has not been validated in other populations. The Australian Absolute Cardiovascular Disease Risk Calculator is recommended for use to estimate an individual’s 5-year risk of cardiovascular …

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