HIV Experts & Evidence™

Faculty

Jonathan A. Colasanti, MD, MSPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Emory
University School of Medicine
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Global Health
Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University
Associate Medical Director of the Infectious Diseases Program of the Grady Health System
Atlanta, Georgia

Paul E. Sax, MD
Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Clinical Director, Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Program
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts
Program Overview

Target Audience

This activity was developed for infectious diseases clinicians and other HIV treaters, as well as primary care providers (PCPs) and other community stakeholders involved in the care of patients with HIV infection.

Educational Objectives

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

• Help patients achieve viral suppression quickly after HIV diagnosis to optimize long-term patient outcomes and reduce the risk of HIV transmission
• Select appropriate regimens for same-day ART or expedited ART based on current efficacy and safety data
• Implement strategies designed to overcome barriers to the provision of rapid ART to patients with newly diagnosed HIV infection

Program Overview

Best practice recommendations for treatment of patients infected with HIV are continually evolving and now include strategies related to early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART).¹ The results of pivotal clinical trials have demonstrated not only the benefits of early and continuous ART for long-term health outcomes in people living with HIV,^2,3 but also a profound decrease in HIV transmission.⁴ Same-day HIV diagnosis and treatment approaches have been developed to minimize the rate of attrition that occurs in the interval between diagnosis and initiation of ART, and to address the barriers that often lead to delayed treatment.⁵ Although the body of literature documenting the success and feasibility of same-day–start protocols is growing,⁶ most HIV-care clinicians are not fully aware of the benefits of these strategies, and even fewer provide patients with an opportunity to initiate rapid, same-day ART regimens. Geared to the needs of HIV-specialist clinicians, this HIV Experts and Evidence™ live meeting series will present updates to the national HIV elimination goals, review recent data related to rapid ART initiation, and offer solutions to logistical and clinical barriers that can impede patient access to appropriate same-day ART regimens for new HIV infections.

References

1. The Office of National AIDS Policy. National HIV/AIDS strategy for the United States: updated to 2020. 2015. https://obamawhitehouse. archives.gov/sites/default/files/docs/ national_hiv_aids_strategy_update_2020.pdf. Accessed March 7, 2018.
2. The INSIGHT START Study Group. Initiation of antiretroviral therapy in early asymptomatic HIV infection. N Engl J Med. 2015;373(9):795-807.
3. The SMART Study Group. CD4+ count-guided interruption of antiretroviral treatment. N Engl J Med. 2006;355(22):2283-2296.
4. Cohen MS, et al. Antiretroviral therapy for the prevention of HIV-1 transmission. N Engl J Med. 2016;375(9):830-839.
5. Geng EH, Havlir DV. The science of rapid start—from the when to the how of antiretroviral initiation. PLoS Med. 2017;14(7):e1002358.
6. Pilcher CD, et al. The effect of same-day observed initiation of antiretroviral therapy on HIV viral load and treatment outcomes in a U.S. public health setting. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2017;74(1):44-51.

Physician Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Global Education Group (Global) and Integritas Communications.  Global is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physician Credit Designation

Global Education Group designates this Enduring Webcast for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Global Contact Information

For information about the accreditation of this program, please contact Global at 303-395-1782 or cme@globaleducationgroup.com.

Instructions to Receive Credit

In order to receive credit for this activity, the participant must score at least 70% on the posttest and complete the program evaluation.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Global Education Group (Global) requires instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals and their spouses/life partners who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by Global for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content, and appropriateness of patient care recommendations.

The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Jonathan A. Colasanti, MD, MSPH: Nothing to disclose

Paul E. Sax, MD: Consultant/Independent Contractor: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline/ViiV Healthcare, Merck, Janssen; Grant/Research Support: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Glaxo-SmithKline/ViiV Healthcare, Merck

The planners and managers reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Lindsay Borvansky: Nothing to disclose
Andrea Funk: Nothing to disclose
Liddy Knight: Nothing to disclose
Jim Kappler, PhD: Nothing to disclose
Julia Muino: Nothing to disclose

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Global Education Group (Global) and Integritas Communications do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. 

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization associated with this activity. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer

Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of patient conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

Fee Information & Refund/Cancellation Policy

There is no fee for this educational activity.