Applying Public Health Principles to the HIV Epidemic — How Are We Doing?

Abstract

A decade ago, we called for applying public health principles to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in the United States.¹ Over the past decade, U.S. health departments, community organizations, and health care providers have expanded HIV screening and targeted testing, and as a result a greater proportion of HIV-infected people are now aware of their infection^2,3; the number of reported new diagnoses of HIV infection has decreased^4,5; and people with HIV infection are living longer.⁶ We have more sensitive diagnostic tests; more effective medications and medications with better side-effect profiles; rigorous confirmation that treatment prevents the spread of HIV and improves the health of infected people; and documentation of the potential benefit of preexposure prophylaxis for some high-risk people.^7-12