Conversations with CEI

“This podcast discusses the recent presentation of data for lenacapavir, a potent capsid inhibitor for HIV that was 100% effective in preventing HIV infection in cis-gender woman at risk for HIV. If approved, it will offer an exciting new option to prevent HIV which should dramatically improve our chances of reaching the goal of totally eliminating new HIV infections. The trial compared twice yearly injections of lenacapavir to both F/TAF and F/TDF in cis-gender woman and found similar effectiveness for F/TAF compared to F/TDF but there were zero new HIV infections in participants on lenacapavir.”. Related Content: https://ceitraining.org/

Providers calling into our CEI hotline often ask me what to do when their patient's HIV test results are unclear. These ambiguous or discordant test results can be a source of anxiety and confusion for both patients and healthcare providers alike. To provide additional insight into this complex issue, Dr. Tony Urbina, Professor of Medicine from Mt. Sinai Health System and Medical Director of the New York State CEI HIV Primary Care and Prevention Center of Excellence, speaks with Dr. Lucia Torian, a distinguished epidemiologist who has dedicated over three decades of her career to the New York City Department of Health. As the Deputy Director of the HIV Epidemiology Program, she brings a wealth of expertise in HIV diagnostic testing and case surveillance. In our conversation, we dive into real-world scenarios that illustrate the challenges of interpreting HIV test results. We explore real-world cases involving early exposure, false positives, and the added complications of testing migrant populations. The discussion includes practical advice on managing patient anxiety, effective communication strategies, and navigating ambiguous results. Listeners will gain insights into testing acute infections, how to handle PrEP ambiguity, and the role of advanced diagnostic techniques like Western blot tests. Additionally, Dr. Torian shares her thoughts on whether ambiguous results are becoming more prevalent in NYC and provides recommendations for follow-up procedures and timing. Tune in for a comprehensive look at improving HIV testing accuracy and patient care. Related Content: https://www.cdc.gov/hivnexus/hcp/prep/index.html#:~:text=If%20results%20are%20discordant%20or,until%20HIV%20status%20is%20confirmed. https://www.hivguidelines.org/guideline/hiv-prep/ https://www.aphl.org/conferences/proceedings/Documents/2018/43_Gaynor_Parker.pdf https://ceitraining.org/

“Nobody goes into adolescent medicine or into a field of medicine that serves adolescent patients because it’s simple and straightforward, right?” In May 2024, the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute Clinical Guidelines Program published an update to the guidelines, “Guidance: Adolescent Consent to HIV and STI Treatment and Prevention.” These guidelines serve to inform New York State clinicians who provide primary care to adolescents about existing regulations that allow minors to consent for and receive confidential HIV and STI screening, treatment, and prevention. In this episode, Dr. Erica Bostick chats with Dr. Uri Belkind, Associate Medical Director for Adolescent Medicine and Clinical Director of the Health Outreach to Teens (HOTT) program at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in New York City, and original lead author of these guidelines. Drs. Bostick and Belkind discuss the intricacies of providing confidential HIV and STI care to adolescents, perspectives on how to navigate sexual health conversations with patients and a trusted adult, resources on confidential adolescent healthcare for general providers, and more! Related Content: https://www.hivguidelines.org/guideline/adolescent-consent/?mycollection=hiv-treatmenthttps://www.nyclu.org/uploads/2018/10/thl.pdfhttps://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/std/docs/faq_billing_consent.pdfhttps://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/195185https://ceitraining.org/

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a pathogen spread by contact with blood from a person with HCV infection. Prevalence among the US obstetric population rose nearly 10-fold over the past 20 years and approximately 6% of infants born to people with HCV become infected during pregnancy or delivery. The New York State Hepatitis C Elimination Plan outlines over 30 recommendations to eliminate HCV in the state by 2030, including implementation of universal screening for all adults. And in 2023, state legislators approved expanding the existing hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing law to include screening during each pregnancy; changes will go into effect on May 3rd, 2024. This special edition of “Conversations with CEI” describes best practices for screening and identifying hepatitis C and substance use in pregnant persons and linking people to care and treatment. The conversation identifies key steps clinicians can take to support pregnant persons in their care, including ways to operationalize critical health systems for universal hepatitis C screening among pregnant persons. Related Content: https://ceitraining.org/documents/HCV%20Screening%20for%20Pregnant%20People%20-%20Provider%20Toolkit%20MARCH%202024%20for%20Posting.pdfhttps://www.hivguidelines.org/hepatitis-care/treatment-with-daa/#tab_4https://www.suguidelinesnys.org/guideline/substance-use-disorder-treatment-in-pregnant-adults/https://harmreduction.org/issues/pregnancy-and-substance-use-a-harm-reduction-toolkit/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK572854/https://ceitraining.org/

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a pathogen spread by contact with blood from a person with HCV infection. Prevalence among the US obstetric population rose nearly 10-fold over the past 20 years and approximately 6% of infants born to people with HCV become infected during pregnancy or delivery. The New York State Hepatitis C Elimination Plan outlines over 30 recommendations to eliminate HCV in the state by 2030, including implementation of universal screening for all adults. And in 2023, state legislators approved expanding the existing hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing law to include screening during each pregnancy; changes will go into effect on May 3rd, 2024. This special edition of “Conversations with CEI” describes common barriers people who use substances face when seeking health care services, particularly HCV screening during pregnancy. The conversation also identifies best practices clinicians can implement in practice to provide responsive care for people who use drugs, including pregnant persons. Related Content: https://ceitraining.org/documents/HCV%20Screening%20for%20Pregnant%20People%20-%20Provider%20Toolkit%20MARCH%202024%20for%20Posting.pdfhttps://www.hivguidelines.org/hepatitis-care/treatment-with-daa/#tab_4https://www.hivguidelines.org/substance-use/sud-treatment-pregnancy/https://harmreduction.org/issues/pregnancy-and-substance-use-a-harm-reduction-toolkit/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK572854/https://ceitraining.org/

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a pathogen spread by contact with blood from a person with HCV infection. Prevalence among the US obstetric population rose nearly 10-fold over the past 20 years and approximately 6% of infants born to people with HCV become infected during pregnancy or delivery. The New York State Hepatitis C Elimination Plan outlines over 30 recommendations to eliminate HCV in the state by 2030, including implementation of universal screening for all adults. And in 2023, state legislators approved expanding the existing hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing law to include screening during each pregnancy; changes will go into effect on May 3rd, 2024. This special edition of “Conversations with CEI” will provide important information about pregnancy, HCV and substance use from the perspective of a client with lived experience, with a focus on providing affirming services for all pregnant persons and their infants. Related Content: https://ceitraining.org/documents/HCV%20Screening%20for%20Pregnant%20People%20-%20Provider%20Toolkit%20MARCH%202024%20for%20Posting.pdfhttps://www.hivguidelines.org/hepatitis-care/treatment-with-daa/#tab_4https://www.hivguidelines.org/substance-use/sud-treatment-pregnancy/https://www.hcvguidelines.org/https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/clinical-practice-guideline/articles/2023/09/viral-hepatitis-in-pregnancyhttps://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/rr/rr7204a1.htm?s_cid=rr7204a1_e&ACSTrackingID=USCDC_921-DM116215&ACSTrackingLabel=MMWR%20Recommendations%20and%20Reports%20%E2%80%93%20Vol.%2072%2C%20November%203%2C%202023&deliveryName=USCDC_921-DM116215https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK572854/https://ceitraining.org/

In this episode, Dr. Steven Fine discusses some of the latest data that might be used to support starting patients who are unable to take oral antiretroviral medications on long acting, injectable ARV. Patients who consider this off label use because their HIV viral load was not suppressed on oral treatment would have to be carefully selected and well supported. Related Content: https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciad511https://ceitraining.org/

Cultural humility in healthcare, especially for those involved in kink, requires going beyond basic competence. Clinicians must provide respectful care, acknowledging patients' diverse backgrounds and beliefs about kink as part of their identity. This necessitates self-reflection, ongoing learning, and awareness of the doctor-patient power dynamic. Healthcare professionals still hold unfounded biases, highlighting the need for further education and combating the stigma surrounding healthy expressions of sexuality. Related Content: https://ceitraining.org/

In this episode, Dr. Marguerite Urban and Dr. Daniela DiMarco pick up from the November 2023 episode of Conversations with CEI, where they talked about Doxy-PEP for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) covering updates on doxy-PEP since the last episode, and delving deeper into some unique aspects. Drs. Urban and DiMarco are infectious disease faculty members at the University of Rochester, specializing in sexual health care. They were part of the team who authored the recently released New York State (NYS) Department of Health (DOH) AIDS Institute’s guidelines regarding Doxy-PEP. This episode is a “part two” of Doxy-PEP. Drs. Urban and DiMarco review the results of a recently published trial from Kenya, and discuss common questions related to Doxy-PEP. Related Content: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2304007?query=featured_homehttps://www.hivguidelines.org/guideline/sti-doxy-pep/?mycollection=sexual-healthhttps://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/2022/Doxy-PEP-clinical-data-presented-at-2022-AIDS-Conference.htmlhttps://ceitraining.org/

Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. It is also a movement for social justice build on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of people who use drugs. With its introduction as a U.S. Federal Drug Policy Priority in 2022, harm reduction has been in the news a lot lately. This episode will build on the momentum by discussing action steps that clinicians can take to address stigma and promote compassionate, non-judgmental interactions with people who use drugs. Dr. Linda Wang will use a clinical vignette to describe the impact of stigma on access to and engagement in healthcare services. She will continue by outlining commonly-used stigmatizing language associated with drug use, and providing practical replacements that promote engagement and trust. Related Content: https://harmreduction.org/https://oasas.ny.gov/harm-reductionhttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-017-0196-4https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-020-00288-0https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fjclp.20669https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2022.100271https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt42731/2022-nsduh-main-highlights.pdfhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2009.10.010https://ceitraining.org/

RSV vaccine for adults has recently become available and can protect against severe disease or death from one of the main causes of upper respiratory infections. HIV patients are asking if they should receive the vaccine. This question is discussed by Dr. Steven Fine. Related Content: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2017.06.007https://www.hivguidelines.org/guideline/hiv-immunizations/?mycollection=hiv-carehttps://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/rsv.html#:~:text=CDC%20recommends%20a%20single%20dose,most%20of%20the%20United%20Stateshttps://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/older-adults.htmlhttps://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/adult.htmlhttps://ceitraining.org/

Compared with the general population, transgender and gender diverse people are more likely to experience poor health outcomes, such as chronic health conditions, HIV, substance use, and mental illness. We know these disparities are due structural factors, such as political and economic policies, and interpersonal factors, such as discrimination, stigma, and violence. Transgender people are also more likely to encounter barriers to accessing health insurance and health care. When transgender people do access health care, nearly half report being mistreated by medical providers. In this episode, Dr. Antonio E. Urbina, Medical Director of CEI’s HIV Primary Care and Prevention Center of Excellence, speaks with Dr. Joshua D. Safer, Executive Director of Mount Sinai’s Center for Transgender Medicine (CTMS) and Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine. While gender wellness clinics like CTMS are so important, there is a need to expand the health care workforce of providers treating transgender patients. For example, transgender patients report barriers to accessing inclusive primary care providers and specialists who can treat them outside of their gender-affirming interventions. Drs. Urbina and Safer unpack common misconceptions and discuss how providers can improve access to inclusive care for transgender and gender diverse patients. Related Content: https://www.mountsinai.org/locations/center-transgender-medicine-surgeryhttps://www.wpath.org/https://ceitraining.org/

In this episode, Dr. Marguerite Urban and Dr. Daniela DiMarco discuss Doxy-PEP, a new tool for the prevention of bacterial STIs. Drs. Urban and DiMarco are infectious disease faculty members at the University of Rochester, specializing in sexual health care. They were part of the team who authored the recently released New York State (NYS) Department of Health (DOH) AIDS Institute’s guidelines regarding Doxy-PEP. This episode is an introduction to the use of doxycycline as post exposure prophylaxis for bacterial STIs. The hosts will briefly review results from recent clinical trials as well as discuss concerns about risks and side effects. They will also present how guidelines for implementation (who, when and how) of Doxy-PEP have varied thus far and review the current recommendations of the NYS DOH guidelines. Related Content: Quick Survey: https://93dsff4pt87.typeform.com/to/ECrf0DTYhttps://www.hivguidelines.org/guideline/sti-doxy-pep/?mycollection=sexual-healthhttps://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2211934https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/diseases/communicable/std/docs/sti_surveillance_report_2021.pdfhttps://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2021/default.htmhttps://ceitraining.org/

The United States is in the midst of an overdose crisis that’s been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and increased toxicity of the drug supply, largely a result of adulterants like fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. In 2021, the number of deaths in New York State alone surged to more than 5,800 individuals – an average of nearly 16 people every day. Scaling up harm reduction interventions has helped avert thousands of overdose-related deaths, but the persistent predominance of fentanyl continues to fuel mortality. To complement existing interventions, colleagues in Canada and elsewhere around the globe have pointed to providing “safer supply,” or an alternative to the unregulated, toxic drug supply as a potential solution to prevent overdose-related deaths and address the needs of people for whom current treatment models do not work or are not a good fit. Although not intended as a standalone treatment for substance use disorder, this novel approach is showing promise in addressing the growing morbidity and mortality surrounding the current drug supply. This episode will introduce safer supply as a harm reduction approach to support and engage people who use drugs. Disclaimer: Safer supply is not legal or authorized in the United States under current FDA and DEA regulations. Related Content: https://oasas.ny.gov/harm-reductionhttps://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/opioids/responding-canada-opioid-crisis/safer-supply.htmlhttps://www.bccsu.ca/opioid-use-disorder/https://harmreduction.org/https://profiles.mountsinai.org/eric-kutscherhttps://ceitraining.org/

HIV patients are known to have up to a two-fold increase in heart-related events, compared with the general population. Could treatment with statins reduce this risk? Dr. Steven Fine, an infectious disease specialist affiliated with the University of Rochester, reviews the recently published results of the REPRIEVE trial. The big picture is a 35% reduction in heart-related events. Dr. Fine digs into the details and statistics of the trial, and the encouraging results of statin treatment, even in those deemed to be at lower risk. Related Content: The Reprieve TrialThe Results in NE Journal of Medicinehttps://ceitraining.org/

The clinical innovation of antiretroviral treatment for HIV is a major public health victory that has transformed the shape of the epidemic. Healthcare professionals must remain committed to reaching every person with HIV, which means not only developing new clinical technologies, but also the strategies to implement them equitably. Long-acting injectable antiretroviral treatment (LAI-ART) is the newest clinical tool for ending the epidemic. How can we make sure that it reaches the people living with HIV who are not virally suppressed? In today’s episode, I speak with Dr. Monica Gandhi about her research increasing access to LAI-ART among vulnerable populations. Related Content: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M23-0788https://profiles.ucsf.edu/monica.gandhihttps://www.hivguidelines.org/antiretroviral-therapy/art-injectable/https://ceitraining.org/

In this episode, Dr. Marguerite Urban chats with Drs. Rachel Hart-Malloy and Wilson Miranda from the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute Office of Sexual Health and Epidemiology (OSHE) to discuss how clinicians and the Department of Health can collaborate to tackle the significant increases in cases of syphilis and congenital syphilis reported in New York State. What is the Office of Sexual Health and Epidemiology? Are we bending the curve in reducing syphilis? What are the trends in syphilis rates? What is the Department of Health and the Clinical Education Initiative doing to help reduce and prevent syphilis and congenital syphilis? Listen to this new episode to find out and learn more about what you can do to help! Related Content: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/general/about/sexual_health_epi.htmhttps://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/diseases/communicable/std/docs/sti_surveillance_report_2021.pdfhttps://ceitraining.org/

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health problem responsible for substantial morbidity, including cirrhosis and liver cancer, and mortality. In 2021, over 6,500 new cases were reported in New York State, many of which occurred in younger people as a result of injection drug use. Although we have highly effective treatments available for HCV, many people face numerous barriers to accessing them. With the ongoing opioid epidemic fueling new cases, innovative ways of reaching people who inject drugs to ensure they have access to treatment are more essential than ever. Furthermore, people who use drugs and substance use disorder treatment programs were identified in the New York State HCV Elimination Plan as priority populations and settings to focus HCV elimination efforts. Opioid Treatment Programs, or OTPs for short, are uniquely poised to engage people who inject drugs and integrate HCV treatment into their services and help expand access to those most in need. This episode, featuring Dr. Sara Lorenz Taki from New York City’s Greenwich House, will discuss evidence for and best practices to integrate hepatitis C treatment into an OTP setting. Related Content: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/hepatitis/hepatitis_c/docs/hepatitis_c_elimination_plan.pdfhttps://hcvdashboardny.org/https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/hepatitis/hepatitis_c/providers/index.htmhttps://www.hcvguidelines.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/cld.921https://empireliverfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Building-Capacity-for-Hepatitis-C-Treatment-at-Opiod-Treatment-Programs-On-site-and-via-Telemedicine-in-New-York_slides.pdfhttps://attcnetwork.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/Guide%20to%20Integrating%20HCV%20Services%20into%20Opioid%20Treatment%20-%20July%2024-1.pdfhttps://www.greenwichhouse.org/https://ceitraining.org/

In this episode, Dr. Steven Fine, an infectious disease specialist affiliated with the University of Rochester and Anthony Jordan Health Center explains the pros and cons behind the newly approved Lenacapavir (Sunlenca) injectable for HIV. Dr. Fine receives a lot of questions about the medication in his practice. Many patients have heard good things about the new treatment for HIV that is given as a subcutaneous injection once every 6 months. Dr. Fine discusses the current indication in combination with other agents for “treatment-experienced” HIV patients and possible future uses. You’ll hear about Lenacapavir, the data that led to approval, and how it may be used in the future - including possibly for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Related Content: The Capella Trial for Lenocapavir CROI 2023FDA Approves New HIV Drug for Adults with Limited Treatment OptionsVisit us at https://ceitraining.org/

One recent study shows that only 4% of trans youth with supportive parents attempted suicide, while 57% with unsupportive parents committed suicide… In the current political landscape, transgender healthcare and rights have been used to stoke political divisiveness, creating confusion and perpetuating misinformation. As healthcare providers, it is important to focus on the facts and how to provide inclusive care and support the health and well-being of the transgender community, especially during these tumultuous times. In this episode, Dr. Tony Urbina, Professor of Medicine from Mt. Sinai Health System and Medical Director of the New York State CEI HIV Primary Care and Prevention Center of Excellence, speaks with Carolyn Wolf-Gould, MD, founder of the Gender Wellness Center in Susquehanna, New York. Dr. Wolf-Gould began practicing transgender medicine in 2007, when her first trans patient begged her to get educated on transgender care so she could provide treatment. She is a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), and trains healthcare professionals on how to include transgender health services within a primary care setting. Dr. Wolf-Gould and The Gender Wellness Center clinicians provide a broad range of patient care services- from medical and mental health care to research and legal advocacy. They provide care for all who consider themselves “under the transgender umbrella,” including individuals who identify as transgender, gender-expansive, or non-binary. Related Content: The Gender Wellness CenterArticle about Dr. Wolf-Gould and the Gender Wellness CenterDr. Antonio Urbina LinkedInhttps://ceitraining.org/