Mary Meehan

Bio: Mary Meehan is an academic researcher from Columbia University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Population & Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The author has an hindex of 6, co-authored 6 publications receiving 4145 citations. Previous affiliations of Mary Meehan include Johns Hopkins University.

Viral Load and Heterosexual Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1

Abstract: Background and Methods We examined the influence of viral load in relation to other risk factors for the heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). In a community-based study of 15,127 persons in a rural district of Uganda, we identified 415 couples in which one partner was HIV-1–positive and one was initially HIV-1–negative and followed them prospectively for up to 30 months. The incidence of HIV-1 infection per 100 person-years among the initially seronegative partners was examined in relation to behavioral and biologic variables. Results The male partner was HIV-1–positive in 228 couples, and the female partner was HIV-1–positive in 187 couples. Ninety of the 415 initially HIV-1–negative partners seroconverted (incidence, 11.8 per 100 person-years). The rate of male-to-female transmission was not significantly different from the rate of female-to-male transmission (12.0 per 100 person-years vs. 11.6 per 100 person-years). The incidence of seroconversion was highest among ...

Male circumcision and HIV acquisition and transmission: Cohort studies in Rakai, Uganda

Abstract: Male circumcision is associated with reduced HIV acquisition. HIV acquisition was determined in a cohort of 5507 HIV-negative Ugandan men and in 187 HIV-negative men in discordant relationships. Transmission was determined in 223 HIV-positive men with HIV-negative partners. HIV incidence per 100 person years (py) and adjusted rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated by Poisson regression. HIV-1 serum viral load was determined for the seropositive partners in HIV- discordant couples. The prevalence of circumcision was 16.5% for all men; 99.1% in Muslims and 3.7% in non-Muslims. Circumcision was significantly associated with reduced HIV acquisition in the cohort as a whole (RR 0.53 CI 0.33-0.87) but not among non- Muslim men. Prepubertal circumcision significantly reduced HIV acquisition (RR 0.49 CI 0.26-0.82) but postpubertal circumcision did not. In discordant couples with HIV-negative men no seroconversions occurred in 50 circumcised men whereas HIV acquisition was 16.7/100 py in uncircumcised men (P = 0.004). In couples with HIV-positive men HIV transmission was significantly reduced in circumcised men with HIV viral loads of <50000 copies/ml (P = 0.02). Prepubertal circumcision may reduce male HIV acquisition in a general population but the protective effects are confounded by cultural and behavioral factors in Muslims. In discordant couples circumcision reduces HIV acquisition and transmission. The assessment of circumcision for HIV prevention is complex and requires randomized trials. (authors)

Hormonal contraceptive use and HIV-1 infection in a population-based cohort in Rakai, Uganda.

Abstract: Background: Hormonal contraceptives have been associated with increased risk of HIV acquisition. Methods: The association between hormonal contraception use and HIV acquisition was assessed in a rural community-based cohort in Rakai District, Uganda. A group of 5117 sexually active HIV-negative women were surveyed at 10 month intervals between 1994 and 1999. Information on demographic and sociobehavioral characteristics, use of hormonal contraception (pill and injectable methods), condoms and the number of sexual partners was obtained by home-based interview. HIV incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) associated with hormonal contraception were estimated by multivariate Poisson regression after adjustment for age, condom use, number of sexual partners, marital status, education and history of genital ulcer disease. Results: At one or more interviews, 16.6% of women reported use of hormonal contraceptives and 23.0% reported condom use. HIV incidence was 2.3/100 personyears in hormonal contraceptive users compared with 1.5/100 person-years in non-hormonal contraceptive users (unadjusted IRR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.00–2.33). After multivariate adjustment, the IRR associated with hormonal contraceptives was reduced to 0.94 (95% CI, 0.53–1.64). The adjusted IRR was 1.12 (95% CI, 0.48–2.56) with oral contraceptive use and 0.84 (95%CI, 0.41–1.72) with injectable methods. Conclusion: Use of hormonal contraception is not associated with HIV acquisition after adjustment for behavioral confounding.

Prevention of HIV-1 Infection with Early Antiretroviral Therapy

Abstract: Background Antiretroviral therapy that reduces viral replication could limit the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in serodiscordant couples. Methods In nine countries, we...

Prevention of HIV-1 infection with early antiretroviral therapy

Abstract: MS Cohen, YQ Chen, M McCauley N Engl J Med 2011 365:493–505. The exciting evidence generated by this paper – that antiretroviral treatment of HIV-1 infection definitively reduces the risk of onward transmission of the virus by 96% – was rightly dubbed Science magazine's ‘Breakthrough of the Year’ in 2011.1 ,2 It has long been known that the probability of sexual transmission of HIV is strongly correlated with concentrations of HIV in blood and genital fluids.3 ,4 Effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) produces prolonged and sustained suppression of HIV replication in these compartments, reducing the amount of free virus.5 ,6 Thus, there has long been a …

Revised Recommendations for HIV Testing of Adults, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women in Health-Care Settings

Abstract: These recommendations for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing are intended for all health-care providers in the public and private sectors, including those working in hospital emergency departments, urgent care clinics, inpatient services, substance abuse treatment clinics, public health clinics, community clinics, correctional health-care facilities, and primary care settings. The recommendations address HIV testing in health-care settings only. They do not modify existing guidelines concerning HIV counseling, testing, and referral for persons at high risk for HIV who seek or receive HIV testing in nonclinical settings (e.g., community-based organizations, outreach settings, or mobile vans). The objectives of these recommendations are to increase HIV screening of patients, including pregnant women, in health-care settings; foster earlier detection of HIV infection; identify and counsel persons with unrecognized HIV infection and link them to clinical and prevention services; and further reduce perinatal transmission of HIV in the United States. These revised recommendations update previous recommendations for HIV testing in health-care settings and for screening of pregnant women (CDC. Recommendations for HIV testing services for inpatients and outpatients in acute-care hospital settings. MMWR 1993;42[No. RR-2]:1-10; CDC. Revised guidelines for HIV counseling, testing, and referral. MMWR 2001;50[No. RR-19]:1-62; and CDC. Revised recommendations for HIV screening of pregnant women. MMWR 2001;50[No. RR-19]:63-85). Major revisions from previously published guidelines are as follows: For patients in all health-care settings HIV screening is recommended for patients in all health-care settings after the patient is notified that testing will be performed unless the patient declines (opt-out screening). Persons at high risk for HIV infection should be screened for HIV at least annually. Separate written consent for HIV testing should not be required; general consent for medical care should be considered sufficient to encompass consent for HIV testing. Prevention counseling should not be required with HIV diagnostic testing or as part of HIV screening programs in health-care settings. For pregnant women HIV screening should be included in the routine panel of prenatal screening tests for all pregnant women. HIV screening is recommended after the patient is notified that testing will be performed unless the patient declines (opt-out screening). Separate written consent for HIV testing should not be required; general consent for medical care should be considered sufficient to encompass consent for HIV testing. Repeat screening in the third trimester is recommended in certain jurisdictions with elevated rates of HIV infection among pregnant women.

Viral Load and Heterosexual Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1

Abstract: Background and Methods We examined the influence of viral load in relation to other risk factors for the heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). In a community-based study of 15,127 persons in a rural district of Uganda, we identified 415 couples in which one partner was HIV-1–positive and one was initially HIV-1–negative and followed them prospectively for up to 30 months. The incidence of HIV-1 infection per 100 person-years among the initially seronegative partners was examined in relation to behavioral and biologic variables. Results The male partner was HIV-1–positive in 228 couples, and the female partner was HIV-1–positive in 187 couples. Ninety of the 415 initially HIV-1–negative partners seroconverted (incidence, 11.8 per 100 person-years). The rate of male-to-female transmission was not significantly different from the rate of female-to-male transmission (12.0 per 100 person-years vs. 11.6 per 100 person-years). The incidence of seroconversion was highest among ...

Antiretroviral prophylaxis for HIV prevention in heterosexual men and women.

Abstract: Background Antiretroviral preexposure prophylaxis is a promising approach for preventing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in heterosexual populations. Methods We conducted a randomized trial of oral antiretroviral therapy for use as preexposure prophylaxis among HIV-1–serodiscordant heterosexual couples from Kenya and Uganda. The HIV-1–seronegative partner in each couple was randomly assigned to one of three study regimens — once-daily tenofovir (TDF), combination tenofovir–emtricitabine (TDF–FTC), or matching placebo — and followed monthly for up to 36 months. At enrollment, the HIV-1–seropositive partners were not eligible for antiretroviral therapy, according to national guidelines. All couples received standard HIV-1 treatment and prevention services. Results We enrolled 4758 couples, of whom 4747 were followed: 1584 randomly assigned to TDF, 1579 to TDF–FTC, and 1584 to placebo. For 62% of the couples followed, the HIV-1–seronegative partner was male. Among HIV-1–seropositive par...