The Sars-Cov2 pandemic has had a negative impact on the management of infectious diseases other than the COV-19 virus, shifting the attention of infectious disease specialists to it and has led to a change in approach to treatment, preventing the implementation of prevention and screening programmes for HIV and sexually transmitted diseases.
In the last three years, characterized by the pandemic event, there has been an increase in new HIV diagnoses in the population of the Province, with an average age of 25-44 years. The population group most at risk is that of young Italian homosexual males, with concomitant sexually transmitted diseases, in particular syphilis. There are also new cases in people over the age of 60.
With the end of lockdown periods, an increase in HIV hospitalizations was observed, as most of the new diagnoses were made in the advanced stage of the disease, that is, in the AIDS stage. The diagnostic delay due to the epidemic has led to an increase in the reporting of deaths in people with HIV infection, not previously known.
Regarding HIV/SARS-Cov2 co-infections, as of January 2020,in the cohort of HIV-positive people followed by Frosinone ASL UOSD AIDS there were 60 cases, including 10 infections complicated by pneumonia, 13 treated with monoclonal antibodies or antivirals. The remnants, thanks to vaccination, presented SARS-Cov 2 infection without complications.
In 2021, half of new HIV diagnoses were placed at the same time as SARS Cov2 infection, particularly in foreigners .
In the period of the pandemic emergency, access for HIV-positive people undergoing treatment had to be reduced and therefore other forms of communication were sought,including Waths app, in order to maintain continuity of treatment and support adherence to treatment. The essential services were guaranteed through teleconsultation, home delivery of drugs and keeping the clinic open with the presence of health workers and social worker, in order to preserve the connection with the territory in supporting the impact of SARS-Cov2 on HIV-positive people. With regard to the migrant population, contact was maintained with reception centres, therapeutic communities in order to pursue screening and therapeutic programmes.
Compared to the pre-Covid year 2019, in the pandemic period there was a drop of over 1500 HIV tests per year in all local and hospital facilities belonging to the ASL , except Sora . The number of tests in the Territorial Collection Centres remained substantially stable.
In 2022, the UOSD AIDS detected an increase in the demand for post-exposure prophylaxis and was involved in the management of the company’s path on gender violence, taking charge of people who entered the path.
World HIV Day on 1 December serves to raise awareness
- health professionals operating in the various hospital facilities to propose the test, considering above all the need to resume prevention activities given the consolidated data in the years of the pandemic of therapeutic delay and decrease in the proposal of screening
- the population of the Province of Frosinone towards carrying out the test at least once in their lives without fear of the social relapse of positivity, as this infection is now curable and allows a quality of life equal to the general population but needs early diagnosis , still being one of the main causes of death from infectious diseases in the world today.
Please note that the test is FREE.
Dr. Enza Anzalone Head of UOSD AIDS
Dr. Ilaria Uccella Medical Director UOSD AIDS
Dr. CatiaSias Biologist Director Laboratory Clinical Pathology – F. Spaziani Hospital
Dr. Rossana Pulselli Biologist Director Laboratory Clinical Pathology – F. Spaziani Hospital
