Prevalence and outcomes of HIV-1 diagnostic challenges during universal birth testing - an urban South African observational cohort

Optimization of the vertical transmission prevention program in Guinea: impact of the improvement plan on performance indicators at large-cohort sites

INTRODUCTION

Vertical transmission of HIV remains a major challenge in Guinea, especially, in low-resource rural areas. This paper presents the results of a pilot project designed to enhance the prevention of vertical transmission through a comprehensive improvement plan implemented across 66 large-cohort sites.

METHODS

Data from 66 large-cohort of mother to child transmission prevention (PMTCT) sites from 2019 to 2022 were analysed to compare PMTCT metrics before (2019-2020) and after (2021-2022) the improvement initiative. Key indicators were reviewed, and trends were statistically analysed using Mann‒Whitney tests, with a p value less than 0.05 indicating statistical significance.

RESULTS

The implementation of this strategy significantly increased the antiretroviral therapy rate among HIV-positive pregnant women from 66 to 94%, and full antiretroviral prophylaxis coverage was achieved in infants. However, early infant diagnosis via polymerase chain reaction testing falls short of the national target, highlighting deficiencies in laboratory and specimen transport capacities. The study also revealed regional disparities in the use of PMTCT services.

CONCLUSION

The improvement plan effectively enhanced antiretroviral therapy and prophylaxis use, demonstrating the benefits of structured interventions and capacity development. Despite improvements, challenges such as insufficient polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and uneven access to services remain. Future initiatives should aim to equip PMTCT sites with essential resources and promote community-driven health-seeking behaviours in underserved areas.

Growth Trajectories Over the First Year of Life Among Early-Treated Infants with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Infants Who are Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Exposed Uninfected

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of early antiretroviral therapy (ART) on growth trajectories of infants with human immunodeficiency virus (IHIV) in the first year of life.

STUDY DESIGN

As part of a clinical trial of early ART in Johannesburg, South Africa (2015-2018), 116 IHIV diagnosed within 48 hours of birth were started on ART as soon as possible, and 80 uninfected infants born to mothers living with HIV (IHEU) were enrolled. Both groups were followed prospectively from birth through 48 weeks and growth parameters collected. The groups were compared and risk factors for poor growth investigated, in the full cohort and among IHIV separately.

RESULTS

IHIV had lower mean weight-for-age Z-scores (WAZ) than IHEU at 4 and 8 weeks (-1.17 [SE:0.14] vs -0.72 [0.14], P = .035 and -1.23 [0.15] vs -0.67 [0.14], P = .012). Although there was some closing of the gap over time, means remained lower in IHIV through 48 weeks. In length-for-age Z-scores (LAZ), differences widened over time and IHIV had lower Z-scores by 48 weeks (-1.41 [0.15] vs -0.80 [0.18], P = .011). Deficits in WAZ and LAZ in IHIV vs IHEU were most marked among girls. IHIV with pre-ART viral load ≥1000 copies/ml had significantly lower weight-for-length and mid-upper arm circumference Z-scores across all time points through 48 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

IHIV on early ART had deficits in WAZ over the first 8 weeks of life and lower LAZ at 48 weeks than IHEU. Among IHIV, higher pre-ART viral load was associated with worse anthropometric indicators through 48 weeks.

Can newborn infants with positive HIV soon after birth be diagnosed with intrauterine infection?

BACKGROUND

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can occur intrauterine, intrapartum, and postpartum. Currently, infants with confirmed positive results in virological tests before 48 h of age are defined as having intrauterine infection.

AIM

We herein review the literature that identifies emerging challenges in diagnosing intrauterine HIV infection to rethink the current diagnostic criteria.

FINDINGS

A number of reports have shown that some infants who were diagnosed with intrauterine HIV infection after birth became negative for HIV in the subsequent follow-ups, including negative HIV antibodies at the age of 12-18 months. Such "clearance" of HIV was attributed to various reasons: neonatal antiretroviral treatment (ART), false positivity, strong host immune response, or unknown factors in maternal breast milk.

DISCUSSIONS

Positive HIV tests in newborn infants shortly after birth do not necessarily indicate HIV infection, because maternal HIV can enter fetal circulation intrapartum due to the repetitive, strong uterine contractions. The infants are therefore exposed to, but may not yet be infected with HIV at that time. The current diagnostic criteria cannot differentiate HIV exposure from HIV infection, leading to so-called "challenges in diagnosing intrauterine HIV infection". Those infants diagnosed with intrauterine infection who cleared HIV later were less likely to have been truly infected with HIV, but more likely to have been exposed to HIV. Moreover, we suggest that the determination of HIV antibody titers in infants' serial serum samples can provide valuable information to distinguish intrapartum exposure from intrauterine infection.

Use of an Indeterminate Range in HIV Early Infant Diagnosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Expanded access to HIV antiretrovirals has dramatically reduced mother-to-child transmission of HIV. However, there is increasing concern around false-positive HIV test results in perinatally HIV-exposed infants but few insights into the use of indeterminate range to improve infant HIV diagnosis.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the use of an indeterminate range for HIV early infant diagnosis. Published and unpublished studies from 2000 to 2018 were included. Study quality was evaluated using GRADE and QUADAS-2 criteria. A random-effects model compared various indeterminate ranges for identifying true and false positives.

RESULTS

The review identified 32 studies with data from over 1.3 million infants across 14 countries published from 2000 to 2018. Indeterminate results accounted for 16.5% of initial non-negative test results, and 76% of indeterminate results were negative on repeat testing. Most results were from Roche tests. In the random-effects model, an indeterminate range using a polymerase chain reaction cycle threshold value of ≥33 captured over 93% of false positives while classifying fewer than 9% of true positives as indeterminate.

CONCLUSIONS

Without the use of an indeterminate range, over 10% of infants could be incorrectly diagnosed as HIV positive if their initial test results are not confirmed. Use of an indeterminate range appears to lead to substantial improvements in the accuracy of early infant diagnosis testing and supports current recommendations to confirm all initial positive tests.

Unraveling HIV-1 diagnosis in special pediatric cases

BACKGROUND

Early HIV-1 diagnosis and initiation of antiretroviral treatment is essential to prevent AIDS, and reduce mortality in children. HIV-1 molecular diagnosis in children before 18 months of age require, two independent samples to confirm a result. However, some patients have discordant virologic results in different samples, raising uncertainty for a conclusive diagnosis. We defined these patients as "special pediatric cases".

OBJECTIVES

The aim of our study was to characterize the "special pediatric cases" among HIV-1 infected children diagnosed in a five-year period at our laboratory and evaluate the impact on the time to HIV-1 diagnosis.

STUDY DESIGN

A total of 44 perinatally HIV-1 infected infants with molecular diagnostic performed at the Pediatric Garrahan Hospital were analyzed from 2013 to 2017.

RESULTS

We identified eight "special pediatric cases". In the first samples, all of them had negative results by different DNA-PCR assays. Three infants had undetectable plasma viral load (pVL), four had low detectable pVL value, and one infant had no available pVL. All samples with detectable pVL, including those with low pVL (ie: 65copies/mL), had high pVL values at the end of the diagnosis. Considering the age of the HIV-1 infected children at the end of the diagnosis, five "special pediatric cases" (62 %) had a "late" positive diagnosis [mean (range) = 146 (89-268) days old].

CONCLUSIONS

These "special pediatric cases" are not as unusual as previously thought and are important diagnostic challenges. Also, this study add evidence to include the viral load assay in the molecular diagnostic algorithm for perinatal HIV-1 infection.

Innovations and challenges in early infant diagnosis of HIV

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article aims at examining the key recent advances in the field of EID, as well as at discussing approaches for resolving the major bottlenecks faced by health systems in the identification and linkage to care of HIV-infected infants.

RECENT FINDINGS

Programmatic experience in South Africa and research in other high-burden countries showed that birth HIV testing is accurate, feasible and has the potential to decrease infant mortality. Substantial evidence has mounted on the accuracy of point-of-care testing for EID, including for birth testing. Importantly, it has now been demonstrated that point-of-care EID improves the rate of results return to patients and has significant positive effect on ART initiation rates. Finally, there are good examples of how EID fits into more comprehensive and integrated packages of services covering the antenatal, birth and postpartum periods.

SUMMARY

Point-of-care testing for EID, including for birth testing, should be widely implemented to complement laboratory-based testing in high-burden countries. Most of the current barriers for timely EID testing and ART initiation in infants are related to weaknesses in the health system, and will require the implementation of comprehensive approaches aiming at scaling-up these interventions within strengthened primary healthcare services.

Evolving complexities of infant HIV diagnosis within Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission programs

Early diagnosis of HIV infection among infants and children is critical as prompt initiation of antiretroviral therapy prevents morbidity and death. Yet despite advances in the accuracy and availability of infant HIV diagnostic testing, there are increasing challenges with making an early definitive diagnosis. These challenges relate primarily to advances in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. Although PMTCT programs have proven to be highly effective in reducing infant HIV infection, infants who are HIV-infected may achieve virological suppression and loss of detectability of HIV nucleic acid prior to diagnosis because of antiretroviral drug exposure. Hence, false-negative and indeterminate HIV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results can occur, especially among high-risk infants given multi-drug prophylactic regimens. However, the infant HIV diagnostic landscape is also complicated by the inevitable decline in the positive predictive value of early infant diagnosis (EID) assays. As PMTCT programs successfully reduce the mother-to-child transmission rate, the proportion of false-positive EID results will increase. Consequently, false-negative and false-positive HIV PCR results are increasingly likely despite highly accurate diagnostic assays. The problem is compounded by the seemingly intractable prevalence of maternal HIV within some settings, resulting in a considerable absolute burden of HIV-infected infants despite a low mother-to-child transmission rate.

HIV diagnostic challenges in breast-fed infants of mothers on antiretroviral therapy

BACKGROUND

Prompt initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-infected infants is strongly recommended but diagnostic confirmation is important as committing children to life-long ART carries serious health and social implications.

METHODS

Two HIV-exposed infants in Johannesburg, South Africa were identified presenting with unusual trajectories of diagnostic nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) and viral load results.

RESULTS

Case 1 had repeat indeterminate NAAT results during the first 3 weeks of life; repeat testing thereafter was negative with undetectable viral load including after daily nevirapine prophylaxis ended. ART was not initiated at this time. Case 2 had a single positive NAAT result at 1 month of age that prompted initiation of ART. Subsequent results were negative and ART was discontinued. Repeat negative NAAT with viral load below the limit of quantification or undetectable continued to be obtained. Shortly after and around weaning, positive NAAT results with high viral load (7.1 and 6.03 log10 copies/ml for Cases 1 and 2, respectively) were observed in both children. Both mothers were treated with tenofovir, emtricitabine and efavirenz during breastfeeding. Testing with ultrasensitive assays on early samples conclusively revealed HIV-1 proviral DNA in Case 1. Testing with ultrasensitive assays after the early period but prior to weaning did not detect HIV in either infant.

CONCLUSION

We hypothesize that breast milk from the mothers of these two rare cases had HIV-specific or nonspecific factors that led to the undetectable results in already infected infants until breastfeeding ended. Our results raise the importance of repeat testing of HIV-exposed breast-fed infants after complete cessation of all breastfeeding.

Point-of-care HIV testing best practice for early infant diagnosis: an implementation study

Background

With Universal Health Coverage and Integrated People-centred Health Care, streamlined health-systems and respectful care are necessary. South Africa has made great strides in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) but with the great burden of HIV, a minimum of birth and 10-week HIV-PCR testing are required for the estimated 360,000 HIV-exposed infants born annually which presents many challenges including delayed results and loss to follow-up. Point-of-care (POC) HIV testing of infants addresses these challenges well and facilitates initiation of HIV-infected infants rapidly after diagnosis for best clinical outcomes.

Methods

Objectives were to determine accuracy, feasibility and acceptability of POC testing compared to standard-of-care (SOC) central-laboratory testing. HIV-exposed infants for birth PCR testing in hospital (n = 323) and follow-up at a primary health care clinic (n = 117) in Durban, South Africa were included. A baseline situational-analysis reviewed registers and phoned mothers of HIV-exposed infants prior to the intervention. An effectiveness-implementation study of the Alere™q HIV-1/2 Detect POC test (heel-prick specimen processed in 50 min) was compared with SOC with questionnaires to mothers and staff. Stata 14 was used for analysis.

Results

At baseline 2% of birth HIV tests were missed; only 40% of mothers could be contacted; 17% did not receive birth test result; 19% did not have a 10-week test; 39% had not received the 10-week results. There were 5(1.5%) HIV-infected and 318(98.5%) HIV-negative infants detected in hospital with all clinic babies negative. All positive infants commenced ART before discharge. Ultimately POC and SOC had perfect concordance but for 10 SOC tests researchers actively tracked-down results or repeated tests. Turn around times for SOC tests were on average 8-days (IQR 6-10  days) and for POC testing was 0-days. The POC error-rate was 9,6% with all giving a result when repeated. The majority of mothers (92%) preferred POC testing with 7% having no preference. No staff preferred SOC testing with 79% preferring POC and 21% having no preference.

Conclusions

Point-of-care HIV testing for EID is accurate, feasible and acceptable, with benefits of early ART for all positive infants at birth facilities. We recommend that it be considered best practice for EID.

Trial registration

ISRCTN38911104 registered 9 January 2018 – retrospectively registered.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-019-6990-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Early infant diagnosis HIV-1 PCR cycle-threshold predicts infant viral load at birth

BACKGROUND

HIV-1 viral load (VL) has been found to be an independent predictor for disease progression among untreated HIV-infected children. However, qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays are routinely used for early infant diagnosis (EID).

OBJECTIVES

To predict HIV-1 VL at birth using qualitative EID real-time PCR cycle-threshold (Ct) values.

STUDY DESIGN

This study was a secondary analysis of results from a cohort of intrauterine HIV-1 infected neonates. Neonates were enrolled at Rahima Moosa Mother & Child Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa between June 2014 and November 2017. Laboratory EID HIV-1 PCR testing was performed at birth using COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HIV-1 Qualitative Test v2.0 (EID CAP/CTM). Some infants had simultaneous EID point-of-care (POC) testing using Xpert HIV-1 Qualitative assay (EID Xpert). Neonates with a confirmed HIV-1 detected EID result and plasma HIV-1 RNA VL test were included in this analysis. Bland-Altman analysis was used to determine extent of agreement between Ct values of both EID assays. Multivariable linear regression models adjusting for time between EID and VL testing were used to describe the association between EID Ct values and VL and to predict VL at given EID Ct values.

RESULTS

Among 107 HIV-1 infected neonates included in the study, 59 had POC EID testing. Median VL was 28 400 copies per millilitre (cps/ml) (IQR: 1 918-218 358) - two neonates had VL < 100 cps/ml prior to antiretroviral therapy initiation. There was good correlation between Ct values of both EID assays (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.9, 95% CI: 0.8-1.0). The limits of agreement between EID CAP/CTM and Xpert Ct values were 4-11 cycles. For every one cycle increase in Ct value there was 0.3 log₁₀ RNA decrease (95% CI: -0.3 to -0.2) for both EID assays. An EID CAP/CTM Ct value ≤ 23 and an EID Xpert Ct value ≤ 31 predicted a VL of > 5.0 log₁₀ cps/ml in 82.2% (95% CI: 73.9-88.3) and 84.7% (95% CI: 73.7-91.8) of cases, respectively.

CONCLUSION

EID Ct values at birth predict VL and accurately identify infants with VL > 5.0 log₁₀ cps/ml.

Achieving UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets for pregnant and postpartum women in sub-Saharan Africa: progress, gaps and research needs

The implementation of the 2013 World Health Organization Option B+ recommendations for HIV treatment during pregnancy has helped drive significant progress in achieving universal treatment for pregnant and postpartum women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Yet, critical research and implementation gaps exist in achieving the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets. To help guide researchers, programmers and policymakers in prioritising these areas, we undertook a comprehensive review of the progress, gaps and research needs to achieve the 90-90-90 targets for this population in the Option B+ era, including early infant HIV diagnosis (EID) for HIV-exposed infants. Salient areas where progress has been achieved or where gaps remain include: (1) knowledge of HIV status is higher among people with HIV in southern and eastern Africa compared to western and central Africa (81% versus 48%, UNAIDS); (2) access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for pregnant women has doubled in 22 of 42 SSA countries, but only six have achieved the second 90, and nearly a quarter of pregnant women initiating ART become lost to follow-up; (3) viral suppression data for this population are sparse (estimates range from 30% to 98% peripartum), with only half of women maintaining suppression through 12 months postpartum; and (4) EID rates range from 15% to 62%, with only three of 21 high-burden SSA countries testing >50% HIV-exposed infants within the first 2 months of life. We have identified and outlined promising innovations and research designed to address these gaps and improve the health of pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV and their infants.

12-month outcomes of HIV-infected infants identified at birth at one maternity site in Johannesburg, South Africa: an observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

Initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) following diagnosis of HIV infection at birth is an emerging area of paediatric HIV care. We present outcomes of HIV-infected infants identified at birth at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.

METHODS

From September, 2013 (era 1), only high-risk HIV-exposed infants were offered diagnostic HIV PCR tests at birth. From June, 2014 (era 2), all HIV-exposed infants were offered laboratory-based diagnostic PCR tests. From October, 2014 (era 3), point of care (POC) diagnostic PCR tests were also done if staff availability allowed. We describe time to ART initiation, mortality, retention in care, and viral suppression among the HIV-infected infants identified across these eras.

FINDINGS

We tested 5449 HIV-exposed infants who were born between Sept 1, 2013, and June 30, 2016. 88 neonates with confirmed HIV infection were identified and included in the study, of which 86 (98%) started ART. Median age at ART initiation decreased from 9 days (IQR 6-25) in eras 1 and 2 to 2 days (1-8) in era 3. In era 3, more neonates who were co-tested with POC testing started ART within 48 h of birth (29 [83%] of 35; median 1 day [IQR 1-2]) than infants who were not co-tested (one [4%] of 29; median 6 days [5-10]). The probability of mortality by 12 months across the eras was 14% (95% CI 8-24) and did not differ by era. Of the 72 infants who survived and initiated ART at the site, 56 (78%) were retained at 12 months. Of the 56 infants retained in care, 40 (71%) had a viral load less than 400 copies per mL at 12 months, with no differences between eras (p=0·23).

INTERPRETATION

HIV-infected infants can be identified at birth and ART can be initiated within hours to days. Although most infants in our cohort started ART, mortality remained unacceptably high with suboptimal retention and viral suppression. Reducing mortality and improving retention and viral suppression remain urgent priorities.

FUNDING

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, USAID/PEPfAR, and the South African National HIV Programme.

Neonatal and infant diagnostic HIV-PCR uptake and associations during three sequential policy periods in Cape Town, South Africa: a longitudinal analysis

INTRODUCTION

To strengthen the early infant diagnosis (EID) programmes and timeously identify and treat HIV-infected infants, birth HIV-PCR for some/all infants has been recommended in the Western Cape, South Africa since 2014. Operational data on the implementation of such programmes in low- and middle-income countries are limited.

METHODS

Utilizing the electronic records platform at primary care facilities, we developed an electronic register which consolidated obstetric and HIV-related data, allowing us to track a cohort of HIV-infected/exposed mother/infant dyads longitudinally from antenatal care through delivery to infant HIV-PCR. We assessed guideline implementation and impact on EID of three sequential EID policies in a referral chain of facilities in Cape Town (primary-tertiary care). Birth HIV-PCR was indicated in period 1 if symptomatic; period 2 if meeting high-risk criteria for transmission; and period 3 for all HIV-exposed neonates.

RESULTS

We enrolled 2012 HIV-exposed infants; 89.2% had at least one HIV-PCR at any point. The majority of birth tests were performed in hospital versus primary care regardless of policy period. Almost half of all infants (47.9%) had at least one high-risk criterion for vertical infection; of these, 39.7% had a birth test. Infants with more risk factors were more likely to have birth EID. Receipt of a birth HIV-PCR significantly reduced the likelihood of receiving a follow-up test at six to ten weeks, even after adjusting for potential confounders (aOR 0.18 (0.12 to 0.26)). The proportion of infants tested at six to ten weeks old dropped from 92.9% (period 1) to 80.2% in period 3 and those receiving birth HIV-PCR increased, peaking at 67.4% during period 3. The proportion of positive birth tests was highest (2.9%) when birth tests were restricted to infants meeting high-risk criteria, with a low proportion positive for the first time at six to ten weeks. During period 3, the proportion positive at six to ten weeks was high (2.4%), highlighting the importance of follow-up to detect intrapartum and early postpartum infections.

CONCLUSIONS

Over all policy periods, EID guidelines were incompletely implemented across all levels of care but especially in primary care. Birth HIV-PCR reduced return for follow-up testing, such follow-up testing is critical for the effectiveness of the programme.

Estimating the cost of diagnosing HIV at birth in Lesotho

Background

Infants with HIV infection, particularly those infected in utero, who do not receive antiretroviral therapy (ART) have high mortality in the first year of life. Virologic diagnostic testing is recommended by the World Health Organization between ages 4 and 6 weeks after birth. However, adding very early infant diagnosis (VEID) testing at birth has been suggested to enable earlier diagnosis and rapid treatment of in utero infection. We assessed the costs of adding VEID to the standard 6-week testing in Lesotho where coverage of PMTCT services is nearly universal.

Methods

Retrospective cost data were collected at eight health-care facilities in three districts participating in an observational prospective study that included birth testing as well as at the National Reference Laboratory in Lesotho, to investigate the cost-per-infection identified. Extrapolating to the national level, it was possible to estimate the impact of VEID on the identification of HIV-infected infants.

Results

The unit cost-per-VEID test in Lesotho in 2015 was $40.50. Major cost drivers were supplies/commodities (46%) and clinical labor (22%). In 2015, 66.3% of cohort study infants born at study facilities underwent VEID; one out of 199 infants had a positive HIV DNA PCR test at birth (0.5% potential in utero infection), yielding a cost of $8,060 per HIV-positive infant identified. Sensitivity analysis showed costs based on Lesotho costing data ranged from $810 to $16,194 per-infected child with varying in utero infection rates from 5% and 0.25%, respectively. With 11,157 HIV-exposed births nationally from pregnant women on PMTCT, 66.3% VEID coverage, and 0.5% in utero infection, 37 infants infected with HIV could have been identified at birth in 2015 and 8 early infant deaths potentially averted with immediate ART compared with waiting for 6-week testing.

Conclusion

If Lesotho costing data from this pilot study were applied to different epidemic circumstances, the cost-per-infected child identified by adding VEID birth testing to standard 6-week testing was lowest when in utero infection rates were high (when HIV prevalence is high and PMTCT coverage is low).

Strategies for Identifying and Linking HIV-Infected Infants, Children, and Adolescents to HIV Treatment Services in Resource Limited Settings

Many children living with HIV in resource-limited settings remain undiagnosed and at risk for HIV-related mortality and morbidity. This article describes 5 key strategies for strengthening HIV case finding and linkage to treatment for infants, children, and adolescents. These strategies result from lessons learned during the Accelerating Children's HIV/AIDS Treatment Initiative, a public-private partnership between the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF). The 5 strategies include (1) implementing a targeted mix of HIV case finding approaches (eg, provider-initiated testing and counseling within health facilities, optimization of early infant diagnosis, index family testing, and integration of HIV testing within key population and orphan and vulnerable children programs); (2) addressing the unique needs of adolescents; (3) collecting and using data for program improvement; (4) fostering a supportive political and community environment; and (5) investing in health system-strengthening activities. Continued advocacy and global investments are required to eliminate AIDS-related deaths among children and adolescents.