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Lagi F, Gatteschi C, Tilli M, Zocco N, Avarello A, Bellini S, Contanessi S, Zigliani MR, Stagnitta M, Mariano L, Gazzarri E, Belloni L, Fisher AD, Bartoloni A, Sterrantino G, Ierardi F. Facilitators and barriers in HIV testing and continuum of care among migrant transgender women who are sex workers residing in Florence, Italy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TRANSGENDER HEALTH 2023; 25:268-282. [PMID: 38681492 PMCID: PMC11044723 DOI: 10.1080/26895269.2023.2209072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Background An increased risk of contracting HIV infection, suboptimal adherence, and a loss to follow-up have been observed in migrants, particularly if those individuals are transgender or sex workers. A clear picture of the HIV epidemic among migrants is complex due to the lack of specific national data. Aims We developed a qualitative study that describes the barriers and facilitators (cultural, social, and personal) in HIV testing and the continuum of care for a group of migrant transgender women who are sex workers. Methods A semi-structured interview was conducted with a group of migrant transgender women who are sex workers living with HIV or with unknown HIV serostatus residing in the Florentine metropolitan area. Results We included 12 participants: 3 had unknown HIV serostatus and 9 were living with HIV in follow-up at the Clinic of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Careggi University hospiral, Florence, Italy. Among barriers, the perceived stigma due to their identity as migrants and transgender people, the language lack of ability and the legal position in the host country played a significant role. Moreover, the interviewees claimed having no alternative to sex work: for those individuals, changing their lifestyle condition is perceived as difficult or impossible due to social prejudices. Conversely, the interviewees considered support services, such as cultural mediators/interpreters and street units, as facilitators to HIV testing, access to care, and continuum of care. Having regular and accessible ART and the availability of a more consistent health care system, represent reasons for HIV-positive migrants living with HIV to move to Italy. Conclusions Knowledge of this population's personal experience regarding the barriers and factors that facilitate access to the HIV care system is essential for planning public health interventions capable of responding to the real needs of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Lagi
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Marta Tilli
- Department of experimental and clinical medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Angelo Avarello
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Sabrina Bellini
- Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro l’AIDS, LILA Toscana, Florence, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Laura Belloni
- Regional Center for Critical Relationships, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandra Daphne Fisher
- Andrology, Women’s Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
- Department of experimental and clinical medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Gaetana Sterrantino
- Department of experimental and clinical medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Nöstlinger C, Cosaert T, Landeghem EV, Vanhamel J, Jones G, Zenner D, Jacobi J, Noori T, Pharris A, Smith A, Hayes R, Val E, Waagensen E, Vovc E, Sehgal S, Laga M, Van Renterghem H. HIV among migrants in precarious circumstances in the EU and European Economic Area. Lancet HIV 2022; 9:e428-e437. [PMID: 35460600 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-3018(22)00032-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
HIV epidemics in the EU and European Economic Area are increasingly diverse in transmission modes and groups affected. Substantial gaps in data exist on HIV burden and access to the HIV continuum of care among migrants living in this region, particularly individuals in precarious circumstances such as migrants with irregular status. Migrants have a higher HIV burden compared with the general population, and high rates of post-migration HIV acquisition. Migrants also face challenges in access to health and HIV services, with irregular migrants, foreign-born key populations such as men who have sex with men, sex workers, and people who inject drugs, and migrants from sub-Saharan Africa being most affected. Intersecting factors negatively affect their access to services along the full continuum of care, including prevention and psychosocial services. Ensuring equitable access to general health and HIV services, regardless of immigration status, and implementing interventions to reduce stigma and discrimination are crucial to ending AIDS by 2030.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Theo Cosaert
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ella Van Landeghem
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jef Vanhamel
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Gary Jones
- Fast Track Implementation Department, UNAIDS, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominik Zenner
- Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | | | - Teymur Noori
- Air-Borne, Blood-Borne and Sexually Transmitted Infections, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anastasia Pharris
- Air-Borne, Blood-Borne and Sexually Transmitted Infections, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alyna Smith
- Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Rosalie Hayes
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Elena Val
- Migration Health Division, International Organisation of Migration (IOM), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Elisabeth Waagensen
- Migration and Health Programme, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Elena Vovc
- HIV/viral Hepatitis, STIs Unit of the Joint Infectious Diseases Program, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sarita Sehgal
- Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Marie Laga
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
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Analytical Assessment of the Vela Diagnostics NGS Assay for HIV Genotyping and Resistance Testing: The Apulian Experience. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052727. [PMID: 35269868 PMCID: PMC8911269 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug-resistance monitoring is one of the hardest challenges in HIV management. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies speed up the detection of drug resistance, allowing the adjustment of antiretroviral therapy and enhancing the quality of life of people living with HIV. Recently, the NGS Sentosa® SQ HIV Genotyping Assay (Vela Diagnostics) received approval for in vitro diagnostics use. This work is the first Italian evaluation of the performance of the Vela Diagnostics NGS platform, assessed with 420 HIV-1 clinical samples. A comparison with Sanger sequencing performance is also reported, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of the Sentosa® NGS assay. The precision of the technology was studied with reference specimens, while intra- and inter-assay reproducibility were evaluated for selected clinical samples. Vela Diagnostics’ NGS assay reached an 87% success rate through 30 runs of analysis in a real-world clinical context. The concordance with Sanger sequencing outcomes was equal to 97.2%. Several detected mismatches were due to NGS’s superior sensitivity to low-frequency variants. A high accuracy was observed in testing reference samples. Repeatability and reproducibility assays highlighted the good performance of the NGS platform. Beyond a few technical issues that call for further optimization, the key improvement will be a better balance between costs and processing speed. Once these issues have been solved, the Sentosa® SQ HIV Genotyping Assay will be the way forward for HIV resistance testing.
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Determinants and Outcomes of Late Presentation of HIV Infection in Migrants in Catalonia, Spain: PISCIS Cohort 2004-2016. J Immigr Minor Health 2020; 21:920-930. [PMID: 30377891 DOI: 10.1007/s10903-018-0834-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
This study using the Catalan PISCIS cohort explores risk factors of migrants' late presentation and the impact of late presentation on their health outcomes. We analyse 9590 new HIV diagnoses enrolled in the cohort between 2004 and 2016. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models are used to identify risk factors associated with late presentation among migrants, giving crude and adjusted odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals. Cox regression models are estimated to identify risk factors associated with AIDS/death, and crude and adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals are reported. Late presentation is higher in migrants than non-migrants. Among migrants, region of origin is associated with late presentation and AIDS/death during follow-up. The results highlight persisting inequalities in HIV diagnosis and care among migrants in Catalonia. Targeted interventions addressed to specific subgroups in the migrant population are needed.
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Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) is characterised by a vast genetic diversity classified into distinct phylogenetic strains and recombinant forms. We describe the HIV-1 molecular epidemiology and evolution of 129 consecutive HIV-1 positive migrants living in Milan (northern Italy). Polymerase gene sequences of 116 HIV-1 subtype-B positive patients were aligned with HIV-1 reference sequences (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) by using MAFFT alignment and edited by using Bioedit software. A maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic tree was performed by MEGA7 and was visualised by using FigTree v1.4.3. Of 129 migrants, 35 were born in Europe (28 in Eastern Europe), 70 in the Americas (67 in South America), 15 in Africa and nine in Asia; 76.4% were men who have sex with men (MSM). The serotype HIV-1-B prevailed (89.9%), followed by -C, -F1, -D and -A. Compared with 116 HIV-B patients, the 13 with HIV-non-B showed lower Nadir of CD4+ cell/mmc (P = 0.043), more frequently had sub Saharan origin (38.5 vs. 1.72%, P = 0.0001) and less frequently were MSM (40 vs. 74.5%, P = 0.02). The ML phylogenetic tree of the 116 HIV-1 subtype-B positive patients showed 13 statistically supported nodes (bootstrap > 70%). Most of the sequences included in these nodes have been isolated from male patients from the Americas and the most common risk factor was MSM. The low number of HIV-1 non-B subtype patients did not allow to perform this analysis. These results suggest a shift of HIV-1 prevention projects' focus and a continuous monitoring of HIV-1 molecular epidemiology among entry populations. Prevention efforts based on HIV molecular epidemiology may improve public health surveillance setting.
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Chemtob D, Rich R, Harel N, Averick N, Schwartzberg E, Yust I, Maayan S, Grotto I, Gamzu R. Ensuring HIV care to undocumented migrants in Israel: a public-private partnership case study. Isr J Health Policy Res 2019; 8:80. [PMID: 31722734 PMCID: PMC6854724 DOI: 10.1186/s13584-019-0350-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Undocumented migrants in Israel, mostly originating from HIV endemic countries, are not covered by Israel's universal healthcare coverage. We initiated a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to handle this public health and humanitarian challenge. The PPP venture included the Ministry of Health (MoH), pharmaceutical companies, pharmacies, and specialized HIV clinics, the Israeli HIV Medical Society (from the Israel Medical Association), and non-governmental organizations. This study describes the national policy process in conceptualizing and implementing access to HIV services for undocumented migrants through a PPP, and analyzes the preliminary results. METHODS This case study describes the process of creating a temporary Public-Private Partnership to provide HIV care for undocumented migrants based on institutional records of the Department of Tuberculosis and AIDS (DTA) and memories and reflections from partners. This case was analyzed according to the OECD-DAC criteria for development assistance (relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact). Demographic and serological data of patients referred between 2014 to 2018 were collected to monitor progress. and analyze preliminary medical and biological outcomes. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ministry of Health. RESULTS Creating a policy to extend HIV care to undocumented migrants was a 15 year process that confronted several challenges within Israeli and international discourse, particularly concerning governmental response to the migration crisis. The use of a PPP model involving numerous stakeholders provided a solid, local feasibility demonstration that extending HIV care as a matter of policy would have positive implications for public health in Israel. During the first 2 years of the program (2014-2015), the MoH funded medical follow-up and the pharmaceutical companies provided antiretroviral treatment (ART) free of charge for only 100 patients at any given time, in addition to ART provided by the MoH for pregnant women. Since 2016, the MoH has fully covered this service and integrated it within the Israeli health system; this constitutes the major success of the PPP program. As of December 2018, the national program has monitored 350 patients and treated 316 (90.3%). The most prevalent disease present upon referral was Tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this study documents the first example of a successful PPP with government partnership in a high-income country to address undocumented migrants' lack of access to health services in general and HIV care in particular. In light of the intensification of North-South migration, this Israeli case study could be useful for other countries facing similar challenges. It also has lessons within Israel, as the country grapples with other health problems among uninsured communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Chemtob
- Department of Tuberculosis and AIDS, Israeli Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel. .,Members of the ad hoc Health Committee of the Program, Jerusalem, Israel. .,Faculty of Medicine, Braun School of Public Health & Community Medicine, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Rivka Rich
- Department of Tuberculosis and AIDS, Israeli Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Neta Harel
- Department of Tuberculosis and AIDS, Israeli Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Nechama Averick
- Department of Tuberculosis and AIDS, Israeli Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | - Israel Yust
- Members of the ad hoc Health Committee of the Program, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shlomo Maayan
- Members of the ad hoc Health Committee of the Program, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Itamar Grotto
- Former Head of Public Health Services, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ronni Gamzu
- Former Director General, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
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Torti C, Raffetti E, Donato F, Castelli F, Maggiolo F, Angarano G, Mazzotta F, Gori A, Sighinolfi L, Pan A, Cauda R, Scalzini A, Quiros-Roldan E, Nasta P, Gregis G, Benatti S, Digiambenedetto S, Ladisa N, Giralda M, Saracino A, Castelnuovo F, Di Pietro M, Lo Caputo S, Lapadula G, Costarelli S, Lorenzotti S, Mazzini N, Paraninfo G, Casari S, Focà E, Pezzoli C, Fabbiani M, Monno L, Pierotti P, Ble C, Leone S, Postorino MC, Fornabaio C, Zacchi F, Zoncada A, Carosi G. Cohort Profile: Standardized Management of Antiretroviral Therapy Cohort (MASTER Cohort). Int J Epidemiol 2018; 46:e12. [PMID: 26445966 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyv192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Torti
- Unità di Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Università Magna Grecia di Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italia
| | - Elena Raffetti
- Unità di Igiene, Epidemiologia e Sanità Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italia
| | - Francesco Donato
- Unità di Igiene, Epidemiologia e Sanità Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italia
| | - Francesco Castelli
- Divisione Universitaria di Malattie Infettive Spedali Civili di Brescia-Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italia
| | - Franco Maggiolo
- Malattie Infettive Ospedale Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italia
| | | | | | - Andrea Gori
- Malattie Infettive Ospedale San Gerardo di Monza, Monza, Italia
| | - Laura Sighinolfi
- Malattie Infettive Nuovo Polo Ospedaliero di Cona, Ferrara, Italia
| | - Angelo Pan
- Malattie Infettive Istituti Ospitalieri di Cremona, Cremona, Italia
| | - Roberto Cauda
- Clinica di Malattie Infettive Policlinico A. Gemelli-Università Cattolica di Roma, Roma, Italia
| | - Alfredo Scalzini
- Divisione Ospedaliera di Malattie Infettive Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italia and
| | - Eugenia Quiros-Roldan
- Divisione Universitaria di Malattie Infettive Spedali Civili di Brescia-Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italia
| | - Paola Nasta
- Divisione Universitaria di Malattie Infettive Spedali Civili di Brescia-Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italia
| | | | - Simone Benatti
- Malattie Infettive Ospedale Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italia
| | - Simona Digiambenedetto
- Clinica di Malattie Infettive Policlinico A. Gemelli-Università Cattolica di Roma, Roma, Italia
| | | | - Mariarosaria Giralda
- Divisione Universitaria di Malattie Infettive Spedali Civili di Brescia-Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italia
| | | | - Filippo Castelnuovo
- Divisione Ospedaliera di Malattie Infettive Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italia and
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Nicola Mazzini
- Fondazione Malattie Infettive e Salute Internazionale, Brescia, Italia
| | - Giuseppe Paraninfo
- Divisione Universitaria di Malattie Infettive Spedali Civili di Brescia-Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italia
| | - Salvatore Casari
- Divisione Universitaria di Malattie Infettive Spedali Civili di Brescia-Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italia
| | - Emanuele Focà
- Divisione Universitaria di Malattie Infettive Spedali Civili di Brescia-Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italia
| | - Chiara Pezzoli
- Divisione Universitaria di Malattie Infettive Spedali Civili di Brescia-Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italia
| | - Massimiliano Fabbiani
- Clinica di Malattie Infettive Policlinico A. Gemelli-Università Cattolica di Roma, Roma, Italia
| | - Laura Monno
- Clinica di Malattie Infettive Policlinico di Bari, Bari, Italia
| | | | - Claudio Ble
- Malattie Infettive S.M. Annunziata, Firenze, Italia
| | | | - Maria Concetta Postorino
- Unità di Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Università Magna Grecia di Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italia
| | - Chiara Fornabaio
- Malattie Infettive Istituti Ospitalieri di Cremona, Cremona, Italia
| | - Fabio Zacchi
- Malattie Infettive Istituti Ospitalieri di Cremona, Cremona, Italia
| | - Alessia Zoncada
- Malattie Infettive Istituti Ospitalieri di Cremona, Cremona, Italia
| | - Giampiero Carosi
- Fondazione Malattie Infettive e Salute Internazionale, Brescia, Italia
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Refugees and family-reunified immigrants have a high incidence of HIV diagnosis and late presentation compared with Danish born: a nationwide register-based cohort study. Infection 2018; 46:659-667. [PMID: 29971691 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-018-1167-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Migrants represent a considerable proportion of HIV diagnoses in Europe and are considered a group at risk of late presentation. This study examined the incidence of HIV diagnoses and the risk of late presentation according to migrant status, ethnic origin and duration of residence. METHODS We conducted a historically prospective cohort study comprising all adult migrants to Denmark between 1.1.1993 and 31.12.2010 (n = 114.282), matched 1:6 to Danish born by age and sex. HIV diagnoses were retrieved from the National Surveillance Register and differences in incidence were assessed by Cox regression model. Differences in late presentation were assessed by logistic regression. RESULTS Both refugees (HR = 5.61; 95% CI 4.45-7.07) and family-reunified immigrants (HR = 10.48; 95% CI 8.88-12.36) had higher incidence of HIV diagnoses compared with Danish born and the incidence remained high over time of residence for both groups. Migrants from all regions, except Western Asia and North Africa, had higher incidence than Danish born. Late presentation was more common among refugees (OR = 1.87; 95% CI 1.07-3.26) and family-reunified immigrants (OR = 2.30; 95% CI 1.49-3.55) compared with Danish born. Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa were the only regions with a higher risk of late presentation. Late presentation was only higher for refugees within 1 year of residence, whereas it remained higher within 10 years of residence for family-reunified immigrants. CONCLUSIONS This register-based study revealed a higher incidence of HIV diagnoses and late presentation among migrants compared with Danish born and the incidence remained surprisingly high over time.
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Sweileh WM, Wickramage K, Pottie K, Hui C, Roberts B, Sawalha AF, Zyoud SH. Bibliometric analysis of global migration health research in peer-reviewed literature (2000-2016). BMC Public Health 2018; 18:777. [PMID: 29925353 PMCID: PMC6011263 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-5689-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The health of migrants has become an important issue in global health and foreign policy. Assessing the current status of research activity and identifying gaps in global migration health (GMH) is an important step in mapping the evidence-base and on advocating health needs of migrants and mobile populations. The aim of this study was to analyze globally published peer-reviewed literature in GMH. METHODS A bibliometric analysis methodology was used. The Scopus database was used to retrieve documents in peer-reviewed journals in GMH for the study period from 2000 to 2016. A group of experts in GMH developed the needed keywords and validated the final search strategy. RESULTS The number of retrieved documents was 21,457. Approximately one third (6878; 32.1%) of the retrieved documents were published in the last three years of the study period. In total, 5451 (25.4%) documents were about refugees and asylum seekers, while 1328 (6.2%) were about migrant workers, 440 (2.1%) were about international students, 679 (3.2%) were about victims of human trafficking/smuggling, 26 (0.1%) were about patients' mobility across international borders, and the remaining documents were about unspecified categories of migrants. The majority of the retrieved documents (10,086; 47.0%) were in psychosocial and mental health domain, while 2945 (13.7%) documents were in infectious diseases, 6819 (31.8%) documents were in health policy and systems, 2759 (12.8%) documents were in maternal and reproductive health, and 1918 (8.9%) were in non-communicable diseases. The contribution of authors and institutions in Asian countries, Latin America, Africa, Middle East, and Eastern European countries was low. Literature in GMH represents the perspectives of high-income migrant destination countries. CONCLUSION Our heat map of research output shows that despite the ever-growing prominence of human mobility across the globe, and Sustainable Development Goals of leaving no one behind, research output on migrants' health is not consistent with the global migration pattern. A stronger evidence base is needed to enable authorities to make evidence-informed decisions on migration health policy and practice. Research collaboration and networks should be encouraged to prioritize research in GMH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waleed M. Sweileh
- College of Medicine and Health Science, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Kolitha Wickramage
- International Organization for Migration, UN Migration Agency, Migration Health Division, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Kevin Pottie
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, CA Canada
| | - Charles Hui
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, CA Canada
| | - Bayard Roberts
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ansam F. Sawalha
- College of Medicine and Health Science, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Saed H. Zyoud
- College of Medicine and Health Science, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
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Effect of Legal Status on the Early Treatment Outcomes of Migrants Beginning Combined Antiretroviral Therapy at an Outpatient Clinic in Milan, Italy. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2017; 75:315-321. [PMID: 28418991 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000001388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In a setting of free access to HIV care, we compared the early treatment outcomes of HIV-infected undocumented migrants (UMs), documented migrants (DMs), and Italian subjects. METHODS The clinical data of 640 Italians and 245 migrants who started combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) at an HIV clinic in Milan, Italy, were reviewed. The migrants were mainly Latin Americans (83 DMs and 56 UMs) or sub-Saharan Africans (52 DMs and 11 UMs), but a minority were of other origin (33 DMs and 10 UMs). Retention in follow-up and HIV suppression were compared between UMs, DMs, and natives 12 months ± 90 days after start of cART. RESULTS There were no significant between-group differences in the stage of HIV infection at the start of cART or the type of regimen received. The Latin American DMs and UMs included a higher proportion of transgender women than the other ethnic groups (P < 0.001). The UMs were less frequently followed up after 12 months than the DMs and natives (P = 0.004) and were more frequently permanently lost to follow-up (P < 0.001). UM status was an independent predictor of lost to follow-up (adjusted odds ratio 8.05, P < 0.001). The DMs and UMs were less frequently HIV suppressed after 12 months than the natives (78% and 80.7% vs 90.5%, P = 0.001), and Latin American migrants were significantly less likely to be virologically suppressed than the natives (adjusted odds ratio 0.30, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Despite their free access to cART, subgroups of migrants facing multiple levels of vulnerability still have difficulties in gaining optimal HIV care.
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Sub-Saharan African migrants have slower initial CD4+ cell recovery after combined antiretroviral treatment initiation than French natives. AIDS 2017; 31:1323-1332. [PMID: 28492394 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000001482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Poorer immunologic responses to combined antiretroviral treatment (cART) have been reported among sub-Saharan African (SSA) migrants than among native Europeans. We studied whether differences in CD4 cell recovery between French natives and SSA migrants starting first-line cART could be explained by differences in socioeconomic conditions, inflammatory marker levels, and other established determinants. METHODS We compared 319 French natives and 175 SSA migrants (ANRS-COPANA cohort). Clinical, biological, and socioeconomic data (education, employment, income, and cohabiting partnership) were recorded at regular visits. A piecewise linear mixed-effects model was used to analyze CD4 cell count kinetics on cART. RESULTS Compared with French natives, SSA migrants were more frequently women, younger, less educated, living in more adverse conditions, and had more frequent symptoms of depression. The rate of CD4 cell recovery during the first 4 months on cART was significantly slower in SSA migrants, despite a similar virologic response, but did not differ significantly thereafter. The mean CD4 cell count rose from 251 cells/μl at baseline to 508 cells/μl at 36 months in migrants, and from 308 to 623 cells/μl in natives (additional mean gain of 58 cells/μl in natives). The difference persisted after adjustment for clinical, updated socioeconomic, and living conditions (-0.40√CD4 cells/month, P = 0.04); 25-hydroxyvitamin D, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNFR1) levels were lower in SSA migrants, but only sTNFR1 contributed to the difference in CD4 slope. CONCLUSION Initial CD4 cell recovery on cART was slower among SSA migrants than among French natives. This difference was not explained by established clinical and biological determinants or by socioeconomic status.
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Castelli F, Sulis G. Migration and infectious diseases. Clin Microbiol Infect 2017; 23:283-289. [PMID: 28336382 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2017.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2016] [Revised: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infectious diseases still represent an important cause of morbidity and mortality among foreign-born individuals. The rising migration flows towards Europe throughout the last few years are raising renewed concerns about management issues and the potential associated risk for the native population. AIMS To discuss the health implications and challenges related to the four phases of migration, from first arrival to stable resettlement. SOURCES Scientific literature and relevant statistical reports. CONTENT Although infectious diseases are not a health priority at first arrival, a syndromic screening to identify the most common communicable conditions (pulmonary tuberculosis above all) should be promptly conducted. Reception centres where asylum seekers are gathered after arrival may be crowded, so favouring epidemic outbreaks, sometimes caused by incomplete vaccine coverage for preventable diseases. After resettlement, the prevalence of some chronic infections such as human immunodeficiency virus, viral hepatitis or tuberculosis largely reflects the epidemiological pattern in the country of origin, with poor living conditions being an additional driver. Once resettled, migrants usually travel back to their country of origin without seeking pre-travel advice, which results in a high incidence of malaria and other infections. IMPLICATIONS Although infectious diseases among migrants are known to have a negligible impact on European epidemiology, screening programmes need to be implemented and adapted to the different stages of the migratory process to better understand the trends and set priorities for action. Appropriate access to care regardless of the legal status is crucial to improve the health status and prevent the spread of contagious conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Castelli
- University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy; UNESCO Chair 'Training and empowering human resources for health development in resource-limited countries', University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
| | - G Sulis
- University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy
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Raffetti E, Postorino MC, Castelli F, Casari S, Castelnuovo F, Maggiolo F, Di Filippo E, D'Avino A, Gori A, Ladisa N, Di Pietro M, Sighinolfi L, Zacchi F, Torti C. The risk of late or advanced presentation of HIV infected patients is still high, associated factors evolve but impact on overall mortality is vanishing over calendar years: results from the Italian MASTER Cohort. BMC Public Health 2016; 16:878. [PMID: 27557878 PMCID: PMC4997689 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3477-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2016] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We aimed at evaluating frequency and factors associated with late presentation and advanced HIV disease and excess risk of death due to these conditions from 1985 to 2013 among naïve HIV infected patients enrolled in the Italian MASTER Cohort. METHODS All antiretroviral naive adults with available CD4+ T cell count after diagnosis of HIV infection were included. Multivariable logistic regression analysis investigated factors associated either with late presentation or advanced HIV disease. Probabilities of survival were estimated both at year-1 and at year-5 according to the Kaplan-Meier method. Flexible parametric models were used to evaluate changes in risk of death overtime according to late presentation and advanced HIV disease. The analyses were stratified for calendar periods. RESULTS 19,391 patients were included (54 % were late presenters and 37.6 % were advanced presenters). At multivariable analysis, the following factors were positively associated with late presentation: male gender (OR = 1.29), older age (≥55 years vs. <25 years; OR = 7.45), migration (OR = 1.54), and heterosexual risk factor for HIV acquisition (OR = 1.52) or IDU (OR = 1.27) compared to homosexual risk. Survival rates at year-5 increased steadily and reached 92.1 % for late presenters vs. 97.4 % for non-late presenters enrolled in the period 2004-2009. Using flexible parametric models we found a sustained reduction of hazard ratios over time for any cause deaths between late and non-late presenters over time. Similar results were found for advanced HIV disease. CONCLUSION Screening polices need to be urgently implemented, particularly in most-at-risk categories for late presentation, such as migrants, older patients and those with heterosexual intercourse or IDU as risk factors for HIV acquisition. Although in recent years the impact of late presentation on survival decreased, about 10 % of patients diagnosed in more recent years remains at increased risk of death over a long-term follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Raffetti
- Institute of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maria Concetta Postorino
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University "Magna Graecia", Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Francesco Castelli
- Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Salvatore Casari
- Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Franco Maggiolo
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, "Papa Giovanni XXIII" Hospital, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Elisa Di Filippo
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, "Papa Giovanni XXIII" Hospital, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Alessandro D'Avino
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Gori
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Ospedale "S. Gerardo", Monza, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Ladisa
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Massimo Di Pietro
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, "S. M. Annunziata" Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Sighinolfi
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, "S. Anna" Hospital, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Fabio Zacchi
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Istituti Ospitalieri Cremona, Cremona, Italy
| | - Carlo Torti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University "Magna Graecia", Catanzaro, Italy.
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Di Biagio A, Cozzi-Lepri A, Prinapori R, Angarano G, Gori A, Quirino T, De Luca A, Costantini A, Mussini C, Rizzardini G, Castagna A, Antinori A, dʼArminio Monforte A. Discontinuation of Initial Antiretroviral Therapy in Clinical Practice: Moving Toward Individualized Therapy. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2016; 71:263-71. [PMID: 26871881 PMCID: PMC4770376 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000000849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Background: Study aim was to estimate the rate and identify predictors of discontinuation of first combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in recent years. Methods: Patients who initiated first cART between January 2008 and October 2014 were included. Discontinuation was defined as stop of at least 1 drug of the regimen, regardless of the reason. All causes of discontinuation were evaluated and 3 main endpoints were considered: toxicity, intolerance, and simplification. Predictors of discontinuation were examined separately for all 3 endpoints. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used for the outcome discontinuation of ≥1 drug regardless of the reason. Cox regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with treatment discontinuation because of the 3 reasons considered. Results: A total of 4052 patients were included. Main reason for stopping at least 1 drug were simplification (29%), intolerance (21%), toxicity (19%), other causes (18%), failure (8%), planned discontinuation (4%), and nonadherence (2%). In a multivariable Cox model, predictors of discontinuation for simplification were heterosexual transmission (P = 0.007), being immigrant (P = 0.017), higher nadir lymphocyte T CD4+ cell (P = 0.011), and higher lymphocyte T CD8+ cell count (P = 0.025); for discontinuation due to intolerance: the use of statins (P = 0.029), higher blood glucose levels (P = 0.050). About toxicity: higher blood glucose levels (P = 0.010) and the use of zidovudine/lamivudine as backbone (P = 0.044). Conclusions: In the late cART era, the main reason for stopping the initial regimen is simplification. This scenario reflects the changes in recommendations aimed to enhance adherence and quality of life, and minimize drug toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Di Biagio
- *Infectious Diseases Unit, IRCCS AOU S. Martino-IST, National Institute for Cancer Research, Genoa, Italy;†Department of Infection and Population Health, Division of Population Health, UCL Medical School, Royal Free Campus, London, United Kingdom;‡Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy;§Clinic of Infectious Diseases, San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy;‖Infectious Diseases Unit, Busto Arsizio Hospital, Busto Arsizio (VA), Italy;¶Infectious Diseases Unit, Siena University Hospital, Siena, Italy;#Department of Health Sciences, University of Ancona, Ancona, Italy;**Infectious Diseases Clinic, Policlinico of Modena, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy;††Infectious Diseases Unit, Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy;‡‡Infectious Diseases Unit, Vita-Salute University, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy;§§National Institute for Infectious Diseases IRCCS L. Spallanzani, Rome, Italy; and‖‖Clinic of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Health Sciences, S Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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High proportion of HIV late presenters at an academic tertiary care center in northern Germany confirms the results of several cohorts in Germany: time to put better HIV screening efforts on the national agenda? Infection 2016; 44:347-52. [PMID: 26914449 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-016-0880-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 01/30/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
165 treatment-naive patients who first presented at the infectious disease clinic of the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf from 2009 to 2011 were retrospectively analyzed with emphasis on patients with late presentation (LP). In line with other recent German reports, there was a large proportion of 105 of the 165 treatment-naïve patients (63.6 %) who presented late. Old age, heterosexual transmission risk and migrant background were associated risk factors for late presentation. Thus, further intensified national efforts like the HIV in Europe initiative are needed to identify such patients at high risk for HIV infection.
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Brief Report: Consequences of Presentation With Advanced HIV Disease in Pregnancy: Data From a National Study in Italy. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2016; 70:452-5. [PMID: 26262778 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000000791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Among 469 women with a diagnosis of HIV in pregnancy, 74 (15.8%) presented with less than 200 CD4 cells per cubic millimeter. The only variable significantly associated with this occurrence was African origin (odds ratio: 2.22, 95% confidence intervals: 1.32 to 3.75, P = 0.003). Four women with low CD4 (5.6%), compared with none with higher CD4 counts, had severe AIDS-defining conditions (P < 0.001) during pregnancy or soon after delivery, and one transmitted HIV to the newborn. Early preterm delivery (<32 weeks) was significantly more frequent with low CD4 (6.2% vs. 1.4%, P = 0.015). An earlier access to HIV testing, particularly among immigrants of African origin, can prevent severe HIV-related morbidity.
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Di Carlo P, Guadagnino G, Immordino P, Mazzola G, Colletti P, Alongi I, Adamoli L, Vitale F, Casuccio A. Behavioral and clinical characteristics of people receiving medical care for HIV infection in an outpatient facility in Sicily, Italy. Patient Prefer Adherence 2016; 10:919-27. [PMID: 27307712 PMCID: PMC4889094 DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s90456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM The authors examined a cohort of HIV-positive outpatients at the AIDS Center of Palermo University in Italy in order to identify factors related to the frequency of their visits to the outpatient facility for health care services. METHODS Two hundred and twenty-four HIV-infected subjects were enrolled in the study. Demographic and HIV disease characteristics were recorded and assessed with the number of days accessed to our outpatients unit in univariate and multivariate analyses. The potential relationship with immunological status was also analyzed stratifying the patients into groups according to their CD4(+) T-cell counts (≥500 vs <500/mm(3), and ≥200 vs <200/mm(3)). RESULTS Both univariate and multivariate analyses showed that duration of antiretroviral therapy <5 years and hypertension were significantly associated with a CD4(+) T-cell count of <500/mm(3), whereas geographic origin (Africa) was associated with a CD4(+) T-cell count of <200/mm(3). Mean number of days the patients sought access to day-care services for laboratory tests was negatively associated with CD4(+) T-cell count. CONCLUSION Patients with low CD4(+) T-cell counts showed higher use of health care services, demonstrating how early HIV diagnosis can help to reduce health care costs. The CD4(+) T-cell cut-off of 200 cells emphasizes the importance of identifying and managing HIV infection among hard-to-reach groups like vulnerable migrants. In our sample, the illegal status of immigrants does not influence the management of their HIV/AIDS condition, but the lack of European health card that documents the current antiretroviral status, could interfere with the efforts to eradicate AIDS. A better understanding of the major determinants of HIV treatment costs has led to appropriate large-scale actions, which in turn has increased resources and expanded intervention programs. Further guidance should be offered to hard-to-reach groups in order to improve early AIDS diagnosis, and procedures for identifying and managing these vulnerable subjects should be made available to care commissioners and service providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Di Carlo
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care “G D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuliana Guadagnino
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care “G D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Palmira Immordino
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care “G D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Mazzola
- Department of Medicinal Clinics and Emerging Diseases, “Paolo Giaccone” Polyclinic University Hospital, Palermo, Italy
| | - Pietro Colletti
- Department of Medicinal Clinics and Emerging Diseases, “Paolo Giaccone” Polyclinic University Hospital, Palermo, Italy
| | - Ilenia Alongi
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care “G D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Lucia Adamoli
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care “G D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesco Vitale
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care “G D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandra Casuccio
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care “G D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
- Correspondence: Alessandra Casuccio, Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care “G D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 127, 90127 Palermo, Italy, Tel +39 91 655 3929, Fax +39 91 655 3905, Email
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Saracino A, Lorenzini P, Lo Caputo S, Girardi E, Castelli F, Bonfanti P, Rusconi S, Caramello P, Abrescia N, Mussini C, Monno L, d'Arminio Monforte A. Increased risk of virologic failure to the first antiretroviral regimen in HIV-infected migrants compared to natives: data from the ICONA cohort. Clin Microbiol Infect 2015; 22:288.e1-8. [PMID: 26551839 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2015.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Revised: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Migrant and Italian HIV-infected patients (n = 5773) enrolled in the ICONA cohort in 2004-2014 were compared for disparities in access to an initial antiretroviral regimen and/or risk of virologic failure (VF), and determinants of failure were evaluated. Variables associated with initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) were analysed. Primary endpoint was time to failure after at least 6 months of ART and was defined as: VF, first of two consecutive virus loads (VL) >200 copies/mL; treatment discontinuation (TD) for any reason; and treatment failure as confirmed VL >200 copies/mL or TD. A Poisson multivariable analysis was performed to control for confounders. Migrants presented significantly lower CD4 counts and more frequent AIDS events at baseline. When adjusting for baseline confounders, migrants presented a lower likelihood to begin ART (odds ratio 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.67-0.95, p 0.012). After initiating ART, the incidence VF rate was 6.4 per 100 person-years (95% CI 4.8-8.5) in migrants and 2.7 in natives (95% CI 2.2-3.3). Multivariable analysis confirmed that migrants had a higher risk of VF (incidence rate ratio 1.90, 95% CI 1.25-2.91, p 0.003) and treatment failure (incidence rate ratio 1.16, 95% CI 1.01-1.33, p 0.031), with no differences for TD. Among migrants, variables associated with VF were age, unemployment and use of a boosted protease inhibitor-based regimen versus nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Despite the use of more potent and safer drugs in the last 10 years, and even in a universal health care setting, migrants living with HIV still present barriers to initiating ART and an increased risk of VF compared to natives.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Saracino
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
| | - P Lorenzini
- Clinical Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases 'Lazzaro Spallanzani' IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - S Lo Caputo
- Santissima Annunziata Hospital, Firenze, Italy
| | - E Girardi
- Department of Epidemiology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases 'L. Spallanzani,' IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - F Castelli
- University Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - P Bonfanti
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Azienda Ospedaliera Lecco, Lecco, Italy
| | - S Rusconi
- Department of Infectious Disease, L. Sacco University Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - P Caramello
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit I, Department of Infectious Diseases, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Torino, Italy
| | - N Abrescia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Cotugno Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | - C Mussini
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - L Monno
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - A d'Arminio Monforte
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Health Sciences, San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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