Recent HIV infection: What role does it play in HIV transmission?

Prevention in Focus PiF 2022 Spring

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People with a recent HIV infection may be more likely to transmit HIV to others due to high levels of the HIV virus in the body at this time. Early identification and initiation of treatment in individuals with a recent HIV infection is important for their health and quality of life. Successful HIV treatment also eliminates the risk of sexual HIV transmission by reducing the amount of virus in the body to undetectable levels. This article will explore why people with a recent infection may be more likely to pass HIV to others and what service providers can do to help prevent these transmissions.

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What happens in the body after an HIV infection?

To understand why people with a recent HIV infection are more likely to transmit HIV to others, we need to look at what’s going on in the body after HIV infection occurs.

After someone gets HIV, the virus begins to replicate very quickly and the amount of virus in their body and bodily fluids (such as the blood, semen, vaginal fluid and rectal fluid) rises rapidly.1 This is known as the acute HIV infection period. Within a few weeks after infection, the amount of virus in the body (also known as the viral load) becomes very high — often millions of copies per millilitre of blood. As the viral load increases, some people experience symptoms, such as feeling like they have a flu, while others have no symptoms at all.

Within a few weeks after infection, the body’s immune system begins to fight back against the virus. An important part of this immune response includes the production of HIV antibodies — small proteins made by certain immune cells — which can target the HIV virus and help prevent it from multiplying. The amount of time it takes for the body’s immune system to produce HIV antibodies varies from person to person; it can take up to three months in some individuals.1 When the body begins producing antibodies, the acute infection stage ends, and the person is now in the chronic infection stage.2

At the beginning of the chronic stage, the rate of HIV replication begins to slow down and the viral load gradually decreases because of the production of antibodies. The viral load continues to decrease steadily for about six months, at which point it reaches a “set point” where it stays relatively stable. However, over many years, the viral load gradually increases again if the person is not taking HIV treatment.1  

Why is there an increased chance of HIV transmission when a person has a recent infection?

The heightened chance of transmission when a person has a recent HIV infection is due to a combination of biological and behavioural factors.

One reason for the increased chance of HIV transmission when someone has a recent HIV infection is that there are very high levels of the virus in the blood and bodily fluids during the early HIV infection stage. Research shows that the higher the viral load, the greater the risk of passing HIV to others.3,4,5,6

But a high viral load alone is not enough to transmit HIV to another person. A person with a recent HIV infection also needs to be engaging in activities that can lead to the transmission of HIV, such as having unprotected sex (for example, not using condoms) or sharing injection drug use equipment. Research tells us that people with a recent and unknown HIV infection are more likely to be engaging in high-risk activities than people who have had HIV for a longer time.7,8,9 

There are two possible explanations for this. First, people with a recent HIV infection may be in a period of their life where they are frequently engaging in the practice(s) that led to their recent infection, such as having unprotected sex or sharing drug use equipment.8 Second, because their infection was recent, people may not know they have HIV and may falsely assume they are HIV negative. Research shows that when people become aware of their HIV infection and are provided with access to prevention and care services, most take measures to reduce their risk of transmitting HIV to others.7,10

How many transmissions originate from someone with a recent infection?

It is difficult to measure what proportion of HIV transmissions originate from someone with a recent infection.11,12,13 Many of the studies that have been done rely on mathematical models because it is impossible to measure exactly what stage of infection a person was at when HIV was passed. Estimates from modelling studies range widely, from less than 1% to 82%, and depend on many factors.13 It is likely that the effect of early infections is not the same in every country or in every population.

A recent modelling study in the United States, a country with an HIV epidemic similar to Canada’s, estimated that acute infection accounted for just 4% of HIV transmissions. While this estimate is fairly low, the study showed that people with a recent infection had a heightened chance of passing HIV compared with people in other stages of infection.10 Those who have an acute HIV infection and are unaware of their status had the highest transmission rate (16.1 per 100 person-years). Transmission rates were lower among people who:

  • had a chronic HIV infection and were unaware of their status (8.4 per 100 person-years)
  • were diagnosed but not in care (6.6 per 100 person-years)
  • were receiving HIV care but not virally suppressed (6.1 per 100 person-years)
  • were receiving care and virally suppressed (zero transmissions).

While there is debate about how much of a role recent infection plays in driving the HIV epidemic, it is clear that the chance of transmission is heightened during this time. These studies reinforce the benefit of frequent testing for people at risk for HIV and of beginning treatment as soon as possible after testing positive for HIV infection. They also highlight the importance of ensuring that people with HIV have ongoing access to treatment both for their own health and to fully realize the prevention benefits of treatment.

What are the challenges associated with diagnosing people with a recent HIV infection?

There are several challenges associated with diagnosing people with a recent HIV infection and several reasons why people with a recent infection may not know their status.

Some people may not test at all or test regularly enough to detect an infection as soon as possible. They may believe that they are not at risk for HIV infection despite engaging in activities that put them at risk and they may not know how often they should test. In addition, there are barriers that can prevent people from getting an HIV test, such as fear of stigma and discrimination and lack of comfort discussing HIV testing with a healthcare provider. As well, healthcare providers may lack knowledge about HIV or may not feel comfortable taking about HIV, and as a result they may not offer a test to someone who would benefit from testing.1

No HIV test can detect HIV immediately after infection. The time from when a person gets HIV to when an HIV test can detect their infection is known as the window period. During the window period, an HIV test in a person who was recently exposed to HIV may produce a negative result despite the fact that they actually have HIV.1

The window period varies depending on the test used.14 The most common approach to HIV testing in Canada is called standard testing, which requires a blood draw from the arm. Because it detects both antibodies and the virus itself, it has a fairly short window period, between two and 6.5 weeks. The other approach to testing is rapid testing. Rapid tests (like the point-of-care test and the self-test) look for antibodies only, so they are not able to detect infection before the person has built up enough antibodies to show up in the test. The window period for rapid tests is longer, between three and 12 weeks.

Therefore, if someone suspects they have had a recent exposure to HIV, the standard test is more likely to detect the infection. No matter what test a person takes, infections can be missed if the person was tested during the window period. It is best practice for the individual to be tested again at the end of the window period to help rule out an infection.

Another challenge with diagnosing a recent HIV infection is that, apart from a positive HIV test result, there are no definitive signs that someone has HIV. Only some people with a recent HIV infection will experience symptoms. When symptoms are present, they are not specific to HIV. Some of the most common symptoms of acute infection include fever, muscle aches, headache, diarrhea, sore throat and/or a rash. Many people who experience these symptoms may confuse them with those of another illness (such as the flu or COVID-19) and not seek HIV testing.1 Some people may seek care for their symptoms caused by HIV infection but are not offered a test by the healthcare provider.15,16 This may be because the healthcare provider assumes that the symptoms are caused by something else.15

Because of these challenges, many people with a recent HIV infection may be unaware of their status.

Implications for service providers

Your organization may be able to play a role in overcoming these challenges, by identifying the individuals facing the challenges, linking them to care and treatment and reducing the risk of HIV transmission.

To encourage greater uptake of testing and help to prevent transmissions during the early stage of infection, service providers can provide the following:

  • Education on HIV transmission: Educate clients on how HIV is transmitted to help them to understand their risk for HIV infection.
  • Education on HIV testing: Increase awareness of the need for, and benefits of, HIV testing among people who may be at risk. It is important that HIV-positive people learn about their status as soon as possible after infection, so they can access treatment and support services. This means:
    • encouraging people to get tested if they are engaging in activities that put them at risk for HIV or have developed symptoms (such as fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, diarrhea, sore throat and/or rash) after a potential exposure to HIV
    • encouraging people to test as soon as possible after a potential exposure to HIV and to test again at the end of the window period
    • encouraging people at ongoing risk for HIV to get tested regularly
  • HIV testing navigation: Be familiar with the types of tests available in your area. Standard testing with a blood draw is available in all provinces and territories. Some regions have other options as well, such as rapid point-of-care testing or dried blood spot testing. Self-testing is another option that people can consider. Be prepared to let people know where they can access testing, including whether anonymous testing is available anywhere in your region. For some people it may be helpful if you can help them navigate HIV testing services in your area. This might mean setting up an appointment for someone or accompanying them to their appointment.
  • Education on HIV treatment: Educate newly diagnosed individuals on the benefits of early HIV treatment. It is recommended that HIV treatment be offered right away to people diagnosed with HIV. The earlier HIV treatment is started, the better the health outcomes for people living with HIV. However, the decision to start treatment belongs to the person living with HIV. It is important that people are ready to make the commitment to taking HIV treatment on a regular basis.
  • Education on the prevention benefits of effective treatment: Ensure clients understand that the research clearly indicates that people on effective HIV treatment do not pass HIV on to their sexual partners.
  • Linkage and navigation to care: For people who test positive, provide referrals to HIV care in your community. Sometimes this might mean accompanying people to their appointments to better support their engagement in care.
  • Education on HIV prevention: Educate people (regardless of their HIV status) about all the highly effective strategies to prevent HIV, including condoms, new equipment to inject drugs, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and effective treatment for people living with HIV.

Resources

HIV Transmission

HIV Basics

References

  1. Public Health Agency of Canada. Human immunodeficiency virus: HIV screening and testing guide. Ottawa: Public Health Agency of Canada; 2013. Available from: https://www.catie.ca/sites/default/files/EN_HIV-Screening-Guide-2013.pdf
  2. HIVinfo.NIH.gov. The stages of HIV infection [fact sheet]. National Institutes of Health; 2021. Available from: https://hivinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv/fact-sheets/stages-hiv-infection
  3. Quinn TC, Wawer MJ, Sewankambo N et al. Viral load and heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Rakai Project Study Group. New England Journal of Medicine. 2000 Mar 30;342(13):921-29.
  4. Baeten JM, Kahle E, Lingappa JR et al. Genital HIV-1 RNA predicts risk of heterosexual HIV-1 transmission. Science Translational Medicine. 2011 Apr 6;3(77):77ra29.
  5. Wawer MJ, Gray RH, Sewankambo NK et al. Rates of HIV-1 transmission per coital act, by stage of HIV-1 infection, in Rakai, Uganda. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2005 May 1;191(9):1403-9.
  6. Hollingsworth TD, Anderson RM, Fraser C. HIV-1 transmission, by stage of infection. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2008 Sept 1;198(5):687-93.
  7. Marks G, Crepaz N, Senterfitt JW et al. Meta-analysis of high-risk sexual behavior in persons aware and unaware they are infected with HIV in the United States: implications for HIV prevention programs. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. 2005 Aug 1;39(4):446-53.
  8. Moore ZS, McCoy S, Kuruc J et al. Number of named partners and number of partners newly diagnosed with HIV infection identified by persons with acute versus established HIV infection. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. 2009 Dec 1;52(4):509-13.
  9. Colfax GN, Buchbinder SP, Cornelisse PGA et al. Sexual risk behaviors and implications for secondary HIV transmission during and after HIV seroconversion. AIDS. 2002 Jul 26;16(11):1529-35.
  10. Li Z, Purcell DW, Sanson SL et al. Vital signs: HIV transmissions along the continuum of care – United States, 2016. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2019; 68(11):267-72.
  11. Cohen MS, Shaw GM, McMichael AJ et al. Acute HIV-1 infection. New England Journal of Medicine. 2011 May 19;364(20):1943-54.
  12. Bellan SE, Dushoff J, Galvani AP et al. Reassessment of HIV-1 acute phase infectivity: accounting for heterogeneity and study design with simulated cohorts. PLoS Medicine. 2015 Mar 17;12(3):e1001801.
  13. Miller WC, Rosenberg NE, Rutstein SE et al. Role of acute and early HIV infection in the sexual transmission of HIV. Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS. 2010 Jul;5(4):277-82.
  14. Knowles Z. HIV testing technologies [fact sheet]. Toronto: CATIE; 2020. Available from: https://www.catie.ca/hiv-testing-technologies
  15. Prins HA, Verbon A, Boucher CA et al. Ending the epidemic: critical role of primary HIV infection. Netherlands Journal of Medicine. 2017 Oct 1;75:321-7.
  16. Nanditha NGA, St-Jean M, Tafessu H et al. Missed opportunities for earlier diagnosis of HIV in British Columbia, Canada: a retrospective cohort study. PLoS One. 2019 Mar 21;14(3):e0214012.

 

 

About the author(s)

Mallory Harrigan is CATIE's knowledge specialist, HIV testing. She has a master’s degree in community psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Externally reviewed by: Dr. Ahmed M. Bayoumi & Kimberly Templeton