Diagnosis and Management of HIV-2 in Adults

Diagnosis and Management of HIV-2 in Adults

Purpose of This Guideline

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Reviewed and updated: Sanjiv S. Shah, MD, MPH, AAHIVS; August 31, 2022
Writing group: Steven M. Fine, MD, PhD; Rona M. Vail, MD; Joseph P. McGowan, MD; Samuel T. Merrick, MD; Asa E. Radix, MD, MPH, PhD; Christopher J. Hoffmann, MD, MPH; Charles J. Gonzalez, MD
Committee: Medical Care Criteria Committee
Date of original publication: July 2019

The New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute (NYSDOH AI) developed this guideline for primary care providers and other clinicians who may diagnose and treat adults with HIV-2 infection. The guideline is designed to achieve the following goals:

  • Inform clinicians about when to suspect and how to diagnose and manage the care of adults with HIV-2.
  • Identify the similarities and differences in treatment for patients with HIV-1 and HIV-2.
  • Recommend preferred antiretroviral (ARV) regimens for treatment and identify ARVs to avoid.
  • Encourage clinicians to use the services of the NYSDOH Wadsworth Center, the New York State public health laboratory, for testing used in monitoring HIV-2.
  • Integrate current evidence-based clinical recommendations into the healthcare-related implementation strategies of the Ending the Epidemic (ETE) initiative, which seeks to end the AIDS epidemic in New York State.

HIV-2 Overview

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Reviewed and updated: Sanjiv S. Shah, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, with the Medical Care Criteria Committee; August 31, 2022

The HIV-2 virus was first isolated in West Africa in the mid-1980s among individuals with AIDS [Clavel, et al. 1986]. HIV-2 infection is endemic in West Africa, with the highest prevalence in Cape Verde, the Ivory Coast, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone [Gottlieb, et al. 2018]. Although rare, HIV-2 infection has also been reported in several countries in Europe, South America, and Asia and in the United States [Gottlieb 2020]. A surveillance report covering the period 1987 to 2009 identified 166 cases of HIV-2 in the United States; 46% of those were from New York City [CDC 2011]. The majority of individuals with HIV-2 were from West Africa or had sexual contact or shared injection drug equipment with someone from this region [Torian, et al. 2010]. A subsequent HIV testing surveillance analysis covering the period 2010 to 2017 reported that among 327,700 HIV cases diagnosed in the United States, 102 were confirmed HIV-2 infections and 11 were dual HIV-1/HIV-2 infections [Peruski, et al. 2020]. The report also confirmed that the cases of HIV-2 were diagnosed predominantly in people from West Africa who were living in the northeast United States and had acquired HIV-2 through heterosexual transmission. The number of HIV-2 cases was proportionate between males and females [Peruski, et al. 2020]. An analysis of New York State surveillance data covering the period 2010 to 2020 found that among 34,949 diagnosed HIV cases, 43 had HIV-2 infection, 3 had dual HIV-1/HIV-2 infection, and 25 had probable HIV-2 infection. Among the 71 HIV-2 cases, 54% were male, 79% were non-Hispanic Black, and 31% were ≥55 years old at diagnosis [NYSDOH 2022].

HIV-2 infection is associated with slower disease progression than HIV-1 infection because of lower plasma viral load levels of HIV-2 [van der Loeff, et al. 2010; MacNeil, et al. 2007; Gottlieb, et al. 2002; Popper, et al. 1999; Simon, et al. 1993]. With lower levels of virus, HIV-2 is transmitted less efficiently than HIV-1 through sexual behavior and from mother to child [Burgard, et al. 2010; O’Donovan, et al. 2000; Adjorlolo-Johnson, et al. 1994]. Similar to HIV-1, HIV-2 disease progression correlates with increasing plasma HIV-2 viral load [Gottlieb, et al. 2002]. Although HIV-2 is less virulent than HIV-1, individuals with HIV-2 manifest clinical signs, symptoms, and opportunistic infections (OIs) similar to those seen with HIV-1. In addition, the majority of individuals with HIV-2, if untreated, will eventually progress to AIDS and death [Esbjornsson, et al. 2019].

There are many similarities in the management of patients with HIV-1 and those with HIV-2, including prophylaxis for and treatment of OIs and timing of antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. As noted in the guideline section Treatment of HIV-2, ART should be recommended for all individuals diagnosed with HIV-2 [Ba, et al. 2018]. As with HIV-1, the patient should make the final decision of whether and when to initiate ART.

A key difference in the clinical management of HIV-2 compared with HIV-1 is that resistance testing is not commercially available in the United States and guidance in interpreting mutations is not readily available for HIV-2. Another important difference in management is that the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor class of ARV medications is not effective against HIV-2. Furthermore, unlike in HIV-1, there are no randomized clinical trials of ARV treatment for HIV-2 that indicate the optimal time to initiate treatment or the preferred initial regimen. Therefore, treatment recommendations for HIV-2 are in large part derived from clinical studies conducted on HIV-1. Because HIV-1 and HIV-2 share the same pathogenic process, extrapolating to HIV-2 from HIV-1 is a clinically valid approach.

References

Adjorlolo-Johnson G, De Cock KM, Ekpini E, et al. Prospective comparison of mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 and HIV-2 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. JAMA 1994;272(6):462-466. [PMID: 8040982] 

Ba S, Raugi DN, Smith RA, et al. A trial of a single tablet regimen of elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for the initial treatment of HIV-2 infection in a resource-limited setting: 48 week results from Senegal, West Africa. Clin Infect Dis 2018;67(10):1588-1594. [PMID: 29672676] 

Burgard M, Jasseron C, Matheron S, et al. Mother-to-child transmission of HIV-2 infection from 1986 to 2007 in the ANRS French Perinatal Cohort EPF-CO1. Clin Infect Dis 2010;51(7):833-843. [PMID: 20804413] 

CDC. HIV-2 infection surveillance–United States, 1987-2009. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2011;60(29):985-988. [PMID: 21796096] 

Clavel F, Guyader M, Guetard D, et al. Molecular cloning and polymorphism of the human immune deficiency virus type 2. Nature 1986;324(6098):691-695. [PMID: 3025743] 

Esbjornsson J, Mansson F, Kvist A, et al. Long-term follow-up of HIV-2-related AIDS and mortality in Guinea-Bissau: a prospective open cohort study. Lancet HIV 2019;6(1):e25-e31. [PMID: 30392769] 

Gottlieb G. Treatment of HIV-2 infection. 2020 Jun 8. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/treatment-of-hiv-2-infection [accessed 2022 Jun 21]

Gottlieb G, Raugi DN, Smith RA. 90-90-90 for HIV-2? Ending the HIV-2 epidemic by enhancing care and clinical management of patients infected with HIV-2. Lancet HIV 2018;5(7):e390-e399. [PMID: 30052509] 

Gottlieb G, Sow PS, Hawes SE, et al. Equal plasma viral loads predict a similar rate of CD4+ T cell decline in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1- and HIV-2-infected individuals from Senegal, West Africa. J Infect Dis 2002;185(7):905-914. [PMID: 11920314] 

MacNeil A, Sarr AD, Sankale JL, et al. Direct evidence of lower viral replication rates in vivo in human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) infection than in HIV-1 infection. J Virol 2007;81(10):5325-5330. [PMID: 17329334] 

NYSDOH. Bureau of HIV/AIDS Epidemiology. Unpublished data. 2022. [accessed 2022 Aug 23]

O’Donovan D, Ariyoshi K, Milligan P, et al. Maternal plasma viral RNA levels determine marked differences in mother-to-child transmission rates of HIV-1 and HIV-2 in The Gambia. MRC/Gambia Government/University College London Medical School Working Group on Mother-Child Transmission of HIV. AIDS 2000;14(4):441-448. [PMID: 10770548] 

Peruski AH, Wesolowski LG, Delaney KP, et al. Trends in HIV-2 diagnoses and use of the HIV-1/HIV-2 differentiation test – United States, 2010-2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020;69(3):63-66. [PMID: 31971928] 

Popper SJ, Sarr AD, Travers KU, et al. Lower human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 2 viral load reflects the difference in pathogenicity of HIV-1 and HIV-2. J Infect Dis 1999;180(4):1116-1121. [PMID: 10479138] 

Simon F, Matheron S, Tamalet C, et al. Cellular and plasma viral load in patients infected with HIV-2. AIDS 1993;7(11):1411-1417. [PMID: 7904166] 

Torian LV, Eavey JJ, Punsalang AP, et al. HIV type 2 in New York City, 2000-2008. Clin Infect Dis 2010;51(11):1334-1342. [PMID: 21039219] 

van der Loeff MF, Larke N, Kaye S, et al. Undetectable plasma viral load predicts normal survival in HIV-2-infected people in a West African village. Retrovirology 2010;7:46. [PMID: 20482865] 

Diagnosis of HIV-2

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Reviewed and updated: Sanjiv S. Shah, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, with the Medical Care Criteria Committee; August 31, 2022

RECOMMENDATIONS
Diagnosis of HIV-2
  • To diagnose HIV-2 infection, clinicians should follow the standard HIV laboratory testing algorithm. (A1)
  • In individuals who are confirmed to have HIV-2 antibodies, clinicians should perform a clinical evaluation for HIV-2 infection that is similar in scope to the evaluation of patients with HIV-1. (A1) HIV-2 antibodies are confirmed by a reactive result to an HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab combination immunoassay and a positive result for HIV-2 Abs on an FDA-approved supplemental HIV-1/HIV-2 Ab differentiation immunoassay.

———
Abbreviations: Ab, antibody; Ag, antigen; FDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Before the HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab combination and HIV-1/HIV-2 Ab differentiation immunoassays for HIV testing became widely available, clinicians suspected chronic HIV-2 infection in certain clinical scenarios, such as a declining CD4 count in an HIV-1-seropositive, untreated individual with an undetectable HIV-1 plasma viral load or an opportunistic infection in an individual from West Africa who is not HIV-1 seropositive.

Currently, all HIV testing performed according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Association of Public Health Laboratories algorithm begins with an FDA-approved HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab combination immunoassay [CDC 2018], which detects HIV-1 p24 Ag and HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies but not HIV-2 Ag. If the combination immunoassay is reactive, a supplemental HIV-1/HIV-2 Ab differentiation immunoassay is performed. Clinicians should consider HIV-2 infection in the 4 scenarios described below.

  • HIV-1/HIV-2 differentiation immunoassay is reactive for HIV-2 Ab: The individual is considered HIV-2 Ab positive, and a clinical evaluation for HIV-2 infection should be performed (see guideline section Treatment of HIV-2).
  • HIV-1/HIV-2 differentiation immunoassay is reactive for HIV-1 and HIV-2 Ab: The individual is considered HIV positive, undifferentiated, and HIV-1 RNA and HIV-2 RNA or DNA testing should be performed to confirm or exclude HIV-1/HIV-2 coinfection. A minority of individuals with HIV-2 are coinfected with HIV-1. Qualitative and quantitative HIV-2 viral load testing is available by contacting the Wadsworth Center Bloodborne Viruses Laboratory (see Box 1, below).
  • HIV-1/HIV-2 differentiation immunoassay is nonreactive or indeterminate for HIV-1 and/or HIV-2 Ab: Plasma HIV-1 RNA testing should be performed to confirm or exclude acute HIV-1 infection [CDC 2018].
    • If the Ab differentiation immunoassay is nonreactive or HIV-1 indeterminate and HIV-1 RNA is not detected, the individual is considered negative for HIV-1 and HIV-2.
    • If the Ab differentiation immunoassay is either HIV-2 indeterminate or HIV indeterminate and HIV-1 RNA is not detected, then HIV-2 RNA testing may be used to confirm HIV-2 infection. However, because HIV-2 RNA levels can be low or undetectable in an individual with HIV-2 infection, the absence of HIV-2 RNA does not exclude HIV-2 infection. Therefore, in an individual at high risk of HIV-2 infection who has undetectable HIV-2 RNA, clinicians should consider testing for HIV-2 DNA or repeating the HIV testing algorithm in 2 to 4 weeks, starting with the HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab combination immunoassay. If results remain unclear, clinicians may consider obtaining other HIV-2-specific tests through public health or commercial laboratories or the CDC.
  • Nonreactive HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab combination immunoassay and suspected recent exposure to HIV-2 (e.g., exposure from a sex partner from an HIV-2 endemic area): HIV-2 RNA testing may be required or the HIV testing algorithm may be repeated, beginning with the HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab combination immunoassay, 4 weeks (and not later than 12 weeks) after the first test.
Box 1: Wadsworth Center Bloodborne Viruses Laboratory
  • The Wadsworth Center Bloodborne Viruses Laboratory offers HIV-2 viral load testing, free of charge, for patients and healthcare providers in New York State. To submit a specimen for HIV-2 viral load testing, please contact the Bloodborne Viruses Laboratory at 518-474-2163. Specific services include:
    • Quantitative detection of HIV-2 RNA in plasma samples for baseline and subsequent monitoring of response to antiretroviral therapy in patients with confirmed HIV-2 infection.
    • HIV-2 RNA viral load testing during pregnancy. Contact the lab at 518-474-2163 early in the patient’s pregnancy to discuss the protocol and timing for testing.
    • HIV testing for all newborns exposed to HIV (HIV-1 and HIV-2) in New York State, free of charge. If a sample is reactive for HIV-2 antibodies, Pediatric HIV Testing (518-486-9605) will perform a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test for qualitative detection of HIV-2 RNA.
  • HIV-2 phenotypic and genotypic resistance testing is not offered at the Wadsworth Center or commercially available in the United States.
Reference

CDC. 2018 Quick reference guide: Recommended laboratory HIV testing algorithm for serum or plasma specimens. 2018 Jan. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/50872 [accessed 2019 Jun 6]

Treatment of HIV-2

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Reviewed and updated: Sanjiv S. Shah, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, with the Medical Care Criteria Committee; August 31, 2022

RECOMMENDATIONS
Treatment of HIV-2
  • Clinicians should recommend ART for all individuals diagnosed with HIV-2. (A2†)
  • Before initiating ART in patients with HIV-2, clinicians should perform all of the standard laboratory testing recommended for patients with HIV-1 except for HIV drug resistance testing, which is not available. (A3)
  • Clinicians should not prescribe any NNRTI for the treatment of HIV-2 infection. (A*)
  • Clinicians should recommend a single-tablet regimen that includes 2 NRTIs plus an INSTI as the initial treatment for adults with HIV-2 who are not pregnant and not planning to become pregnant, including those with acute HIV-2 infection. (A2)
  • For individuals with HIV-1/HIV-2 coinfection, clinicians should:
    • Perform HIV-1 drug resistance testing to guide the choice of an initial regimen or to modify a regimen if virologic failure develops. (A2)
    • Recommend an ART regimen that will suppress both viruses effectively. (A*)

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Abbreviations: ART, antiretroviral therapy; INSTI, integrase strand transfer inhibitor; NNRTI, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor; NRTI, nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor.
Table 1: Preferred ART Regimens for Initial Treatment of Nonpregnant Adults With HIV-2 [a]
(listed alphabetically; for specific details, see drug package inserts; for full recommendations on initiating ART in patients with HIV-1, see the NYSDOH AI guideline Selecting an Initial ART Regimen)
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Regimen Comments Rating
Available as a Single-Tablet Formulation

Abacavir/lamivudine/
dolutegravir [b,c]

(ABC/3TC/DTG; Triumeq)
  • Initiate only in patients confirmed to be negative for HLA-B*5701, including when a “rapid-start” or “test-and-treat” initiation of ART occurs before baseline laboratory test results are available.
  • Initiate only in patients with CrCl ≥30 mL/min [d].
  • Consider underlying risk of coronary heart disease.
  • Documented DTG resistance after initiation in treatment-naive patients is rare.
  • Mg- or Al-containing antacids may be taken 2 hours before or 6 hours after DTG; Ca-containing antacids or iron supplements may be taken simultaneously if taken with food.
 A1

Tenofovir alafenamide/
emtricitabine/ bictegravir [c]

(TAF 25 mg/FTC/BIC; Biktarvy)
  • Initiate only in patients with CrCl ≥30 mL/min [d].
  • Contains 25 mg of TAF, unboosted [c].
  • Mg- or Al-containing antacids may be taken 2 hours before or 6 hours after BIC; Ca-containing antacids or iron supplements may be taken simultaneously if taken with food.
 A1
Available as a Multi-Tablet Regimen With Once-Daily Dosing

Tenofovir alafenamide/
emtricitabine or
tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/ emtricitabine and dolutegravir [b,c]

(TAF 25 mg/FTC or TDF 300 mg/FTC and DTG; Descovy or Truvada and Tivicay)
  • For TAF/FTC, initiate only in patients with CrCl ≥30 mL/min [d].
  • Contains 25 mg of TAF, unboosted [c].
  • For TDF/FTC, initiate only in patients with CrCl ≥50 mL/min [d].
  • For TDF/FTC, consider bone mineral density.
  • Documented DTG resistance after initiation in treatment-naive patients is rare.
  • Mg- or Al-containing antacids may be taken 2 hours before or 6 hours after DTG; Ca-containing antacids or iron supplements may be taken simultaneously if taken with food.
 A1

Tenofovir alafenamide/
emtricitabine or
tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/ emtricitabine and raltegravir [c]

(TAF 25 mg/FTC or TDF 300 mg/FTC and RAL HD; Descovy or Truvada and Isentress HD)
  • For TAF/FTC, initiate only in patients with CrCl ≥30 mL/min [d].
  • Contains 25 mg of TAF, unboosted [c].
  • For TDF/FTC, initiate only in patients with CrCl ≥50 mL/min [d].
  • For TDF/FTC, consider bone mineral density.
  • Administer as TAF/FTC or TDF/FTC once daily and RAL HD 1,200 mg once daily, dosed as two 600 mg HD tablets.
  • To date, no clinical trials have been conducted with TAF and RAL; data are based on bioequivalence pharmacokinetic studies.
  • Mg- or Al-containing antacids are contraindicated; coadministration of Ca-containing antacids is not recommended with RAL HD.
 A2

Abbreviations: Al, aluminum; ART, antiretroviral therapy; Ca, calcium; CrCl, creatinine clearance; Mg, magnesium.

Notes:

  1. For recommended ART regimens in pregnant patients with HIV-2, see Management of HIV-2 in Pregnancy > Table 3: ART Regimens for Initial Treatment of Pregnant Adults With HIV-2 in this guideline.
  2. See Use of Dolutegravir in Individuals of Childbearing Capacity.
  3. Substitutions:
    – In all cases, FTC and 3TC are interchangeable.
    – TAF 10 mg and TAF 25 mg are not interchangeable.
  4. For dose adjustments, refer to the NYSDOH AI guideline Selecting an Initial ART Regimen > Table 9: Recommended Dose Adjustments for Use of Selected Fixed-Dose Combination Antiretroviral Medications in Patients With Hepatic or Renal Impairment.
Table 2: Alternative ART Regimens for Initial Treatment of Nonpregnant Adults With HIV-2 [a]
(listed alphabetically; for specific details, see drug package inserts; for full recommendations on initiating ART in patients with HIV-1, see the NYSDOH AI guideline Selecting an Initial ART Regimen)
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Regimen Comments Rating
Available as a Single-Tablet Formulation

Tenofovir alafenamide/
emtricitabine/darunavir/
cobicistat [b]

(TAF 10 mg/FTC/DRV/COBI; Symtuza)
  • Initiate only in patients with CrCl ≥30 mL/min [c].
  • Carefully consider drug-drug interactions with COBI [Eron, et al. 2018].
  • Contains 10 mg TAF, boosted with COBI [b].
 B2

Tenofovir alafenamide/
emtricitabine/elvitegravir/
cobicistat [b]

(TAF 10 mg/FTC/EVG/COBI; Genvoya)
  • Initiate only in patients with CrCl ≥30 mL/min [c].
  • Carefully consider drug-drug interactions with COBI.
  • Contains 10 mg of TAF, boosted with COBI [b].
  • Separate dosing of Al-, Ca-, and Mg-containing antacids by 2 hours, either before or after EVG.
 B1
Available as a Multi-Tablet Regimen With Twice-Daily Dosing

Tenofovir alafenamide/
emtricitabine or
tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine and raltegravir [b]

(TAF 25 mg/FTC or TDF 300 mg/FTC and RAL; Descovy or Truvada and Isentress)
  • For TAF/FTC, initiate only in patients with CrCl ≥30 mL/min [c].
  • For TDF/FTC, initiate only in patients with CrCl ≥50 mL/min [c].
  • For TDF/FTC, consider bone mineral density.
  • Administer as TAF/FTC or TDF/FTC once daily and RAL 400 mg twice daily.
  • Al- or Mg-containing antacids are contraindicated; Ca-containing antacids are acceptable with RAL.
 B3

Abbreviations: Al, aluminum; ART, antiretroviral therapy; Ca, calcium; CrCl, creatinine clearance; Mg; magnesium.

Notes:

  1. For recommended ART regimens in pregnant patients with HIV-2, see Management of HIV-2 in Pregnancy > Table 3: ART Regimens for Initial Treatment of Pregnant Adults With HIV-2 in this guideline.
  2. See Use of Dolutegravir in Individuals of Childbearing Capacity.
  3. Substitutions:
    – In all cases, FTC and 3TC are interchangeable.
    – TAF 10 mg and TAF 25 mg are not interchangeable.
    – COBI and ritonavir should not be considered interchangeable because of their drug-interaction profiles.
  4. For dose adjustments, refer to the NYSDOH AI guideline Selecting an Initial ART Regimen > Table 9: Recommended Dose Adjustments for Use of Selected Fixed-Dose Combination Antiretroviral Medications in Patients With Hepatic or Renal Impairment.

Resistance testing: Although baseline genotypic drug resistance testing is recommended for all individuals with HIV-1 before ART initiation, HIV-2 resistance tests are not commercially available in the United States.

ART regimen options: All U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved NRTIs effectively inhibit HIV-2 reverse transcriptase [Menendez-Arias and Alvarez 2014]. Three HIV protease inhibitors (PIs) effectively inhibit HIV-2, but given the availability of darunavir (DRV), the use of lopinavir and saquinavir should be limited. Atazanavir, fosamprenavir, tipranavir, and nelfinavir have no or greatly reduced in vitro inhibitory activity against HIV-2. As a class, NNRTIs are not active against HIV-2 [Menendez-Arias and Alvarez 2014].

KEY POINTS
  • If a PI is being considered as part of an ART regimen for HIV-2 treatment, boosted DRV is preferred.
  • Atazanavir should not be used because of its lack of potency in vitro against HIV-2 [Menendez-Arias and Alvarez 2014; Cavaco-Silva, et al. 2013].

Based on limited clinical trial data using the INSTIs elvitegravir and raltegravir (RAL), retrospective observational studies with other INSTIs, and in vitro data, it is expected that INSTIs as a class are active against HIV-2, and a dolutegravir (DTG)- or bictegravir (BIC)-based regimen with 2 NRTIs can be used to treat treatment-naive patients with HIV-2. In one study of a single-tablet regimen (elvitegravir/cobicistat/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine [EVG/COBI/TDF/FTC]), 93.3% of subjects had viral suppression at 48 weeks [Ba, et al. 2018]. A study of a multi-tablet regimen (TDF/FTC and RAL) demonstrated that 96% of participants with HIV-2 completing the 48-week follow-up had an HIV-2 viral load <40 copies/mL [Matheron, et al. 2018]. A retrospective observational study from Spain among participants with HIV-2 reported that after approximately 13 months of follow-up on INSTI-based regimens (including DTG), 89% of treatment-naive and 65% of treatment-experienced participants achieved an undetectable viral load [Requena, et al. 2019]. A similar study from India showed that on a DTG-based regimen, 86% of treatment-naive participants with HIV-2 achieved an undetectable viral load [Pujari, et al. 2020] However, without genotypic resistance testing, the 2-drug regimen of lamivudine/DTG should not be used by patients with HIV-2 because using this regimen requires advance confirmation that they do not have virus with the M184V mutation.

In treatment-experienced patients with HIV-2, the antiretrovirals (ARVs) listed in Tables 1 and 2, above, can be considered if their potency has not been compromised by prior treatment failure and the likely emergence of drug resistance/cross-resistance. There are no commercially available genotypic or phenotypic drug resistance assays for HIV-2 available in the United States that can be used to guide the selection of an alternative ART regimen in cases of virologic failure.

BIC is highly potent against HIV-2 in vitro [Le Hingrat, et al. 2019; Smith, et al. 2019; Tsiang, et al. 2016]; however, there are no published data on the use of tenofovir alafenamide/FTC/BIC in patients with HIV-2. If no drug resistance testing is available, DTG and BIC should be used with caution in treatment-experienced patients with HIV-2 who have virologic failure on a RAL- or EVG-based ART regimen. The chemokine receptor antagonist maraviroc (MVC) is active against HIV-2 strains that exclusively use CCR5 for viral entry [Borrego, et al. 2012]. However, its use in the treatment of HIV-2 is limited because there is no commercially available tropism assay for HIV-2 to predict susceptibility to MVC. The fusion inhibitor enfuvirtide has no in vitro activity against HIV-2 [FDA 2018; Menendez-Arias and Alvarez 2014]. The attachment inhibitor fostemsavir has no activity against HIV-2 [FDA 2020]. Ibalizumab (IBA), a humanized monoclonal IgG-4 antibody that prevents HIV cell entry by binding to the host CD4 receptor, has in vitro evidence of activity against HIV-2 with IC50 levels comparable to those found in HIV-1 group M strains [Le Hingrat, et al. 2022]. However, the in vivo efficacy of an IBA-containing regimen in individuals with ARV-resistant HIV-2 infection has not been established.

In patients with HIV-1/HIV-2 coinfection, HIV-1 drug resistance testing should be performed to guide the choice of an initial regimen or to modify a regimen if virologic failure develops. If HIV-1 drug-resistant virus has been identified, ARV agents that are active only against HIV-1 (such as an NNRTI) can be used to treat individuals with HIV-1/HIV-2 coinfection, as long as a combination of anti-HIV-2 active agents is also used to fully suppress both viruses.

References

Ba S, Raugi DN, Smith RA, et al. A trial of a single tablet regimen of elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for the initial treatment of HIV-2 infection in a resource-limited setting: 48 week results from Senegal, West Africa. Clin Infect Dis 2018;67(10):1588-1594. [PMID: 29672676] 

Borrego P, Calado R, Marcelino JM, et al. Baseline susceptibility of primary HIV-2 to entry inhibitors. Antivir Ther 2012;17(3):565-570. [PMID: 22293827] 

Cavaco-Silva J, Aleixo MJ, Van Laethem K, et al. Mutations selected in HIV-2-infected patients failing a regimen including atazanavir. J Antimicrob Chemother 2013;68(1):190-192. [PMID: 22977160] 

Eron JJ, Orkin C, Gallant J, et al. A week-48 randomized phase-3 trial of darunavir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide in treatment-naive HIV-1 patients. AIDS 2018;32(11):1431-1442. [PMID: 29683855] 

FDA. Fuzeon (enfuvirtide) for injection. 2018 Dec. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2018/021481s032lbl.pdf [accessed 2020 Sep 28]

FDA. Rukobia (fostemsavir) extended-release tablets, for oral use. 2020 Jul. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2020/212950s000lbl.pdf [accessed 2020 Sep 28]

Le Hingrat Q, Collin G, Bachelard A, et al. Ibalizumab shows in vitro activity against group A and group B HIV-2 clinical isolates. AIDS 2022;36(8):1055-1060. [PMID: 35262531] 

Le Hingrat Q, Collin G, Le M, et al. A new mechanism of resistance of HIV-2 to integrase inhibitors: a 5 amino-acids insertion in the integrase C-terminal domain. Clin Infect Dis 2019;69(4):657-667. [PMID: 30383215] 

Matheron S, Descamps D, Gallien S, et al. First-line raltegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir combination in human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) infection: A phase 2, noncomparative trial (ANRS 159 HIV-2). Clin Infect Dis 2018;67(8):1161-1167. [PMID: 29590335] 

Menendez-Arias L, Alvarez M. Antiretroviral therapy and drug resistance in human immunodeficiency virus type 2 infection. Antiviral Res 2014;102:70-86. [PMID: 24345729] 

Pujari S, Patel A, Gaikwad S, et al. Effectiveness of dolutegravir-based antiretroviral treatment for HIV-2 infection: retrospective observational study from Western India. J Antimicrob Chemother 2020;75(7):1950-1954. [PMID: 32277827] 

Requena S, Lozano AB, Caballero E, et al. Clinical experience with integrase inhibitors in HIV-2-infected individuals in Spain. J Antimicrob Chemother 2019;74(5):1357-1362. [PMID: 30753573] 

Smith RA, Raugi DN, Wu VH, et al. Comparison of the antiviral activity of bictegravir against HIV-1 and HIV-2 isolates and integrase inhibitor-resistant HIV-2 mutants. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019;63(5):e00014-00019. [PMID: 30803972] 

Tsiang M, Jones GS, Goldsmith J, et al. Antiviral activity of bictegravir (GS-9883), a novel potent HIV-1 integrase strand transfer inhibitor with an improved resistance profile. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2016;60(12):7086-7097. [PMID: 27645238] 

Monitoring ART in Individuals With HIV-2

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Reviewed and updated: Sanjiv S. Shah, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, with the Medical Care Criteria Committee; August 31, 2022

RECOMMENDATIONS
Monitoring ART
  • Clinicians should monitor the virologic and immunologic status of patients with HIV-2 by performing viral load and CD4 count testing at the same intervals recommended for patients with HIV-1.
    • Because HIV-2 viral load testing is available in New York State only through the Wadsworth Center, clinicians who do not have access to Wadsworth Center laboratory testing services should refer patients to practices that do. (A3)
    • Clinicians should continue to monitor CD4 count every 6 months in all patients with HIV-2, even those with persistent viral suppression. (B2)
    • See the NYSDOH AI guideline Virologic and Immunologic Monitoring in HIV Care > Viral Load and CD4 Count Monitoring Intervals.
  • If HIV-2 viral load testing is not available, clinicians should suspect treatment failure if patients experience a sustained decrease in CD4 count, defined as a 30% decrease in CD4 count or a 3-point decrease in CD4%, confirmed by repeat testing (B2), or have clinical disease progression. (A2)
  • If patients with HIV-2 have either virologic or immunologic treatment failure, clinicians should consult with an experienced HIV-2 clinical management specialist. (A3)

There is no U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved, HIV-2 quantitative viral load assay commercially available. However, an HIV-2 quantitative viral load test is available by contacting the Wadsworth Center Bloodborne Viruses Laboratory (see Box 1). In New York State, HIV-2 viral load testing should be used to determine the effectiveness of an antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen in patients with HIV-2 [Ba, et al. 2018; Matheron, et al. 2018]. If clinicians outside of New York State do not have access to HIV-2 viral load testing, they should suspect treatment failure if a patient with HIV-2 has a sustained or progressive decline in CD4 count or experiences clinical disease progression on therapy. Data from a multicohort study indicate that patients with HIV-2 who were initiated on a first-line combination ART regimen had less robust CD4 count increases than those with HIV-1, even after adjustment for plasma viral load levels [Wittkop, et al. 2017]. In HIV-2, a muted CD4 count increase from baseline after treatment initiation may not necessarily imply that the regimen is ineffective.

HIV-2 disease progression has been reported in individuals with undetectable HIV-2 viral loads [Raugi, et al. 2021], and resistance mutations have been reported in the presence of suppressive ART (viral load <25 copies/mL) [Gottlieb, et al. 2009]. Therefore, even with persistent undetected or unquantifiable viral load, CD4 count monitoring is recommended for patients with HIV-2 at least every 6 months.

HIV-2 treatment failure is defined as a persistent increase in viral load. In the absence of HIV-2 viral load testing, treatment failure can be assessed using changes in CD4 count (e.g., a 30% decrease in CD4 count or a 3-point decrease in CD4%, confirmed by repeat testing [Li, et al. 2022]) or clinical disease progression. In cases of treatment failure, it is critically important to address adherence to therapy and to eliminate drug interactions that could adversely affect antiretroviral efficacy, especially given the limited number of ART regimen options. In the absence of HIV-2 genotypic resistance testing, it is reasonable to recommend that a patient with HIV-2 taking a failing integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-based regimen switch to an active boosted protease inhibitor (PI)-based regimen. Similarly, it is reasonable to recommend that a patient with HIV-2 on a failing boosted PI-based regimen switch to an INSTI-based regimen. This approach is preferable to switching to other drugs within the INSTI or PI drug class. If patients with HIV-2 have either immunologic or virologic treatment failure, clinicians are strongly urged to refer them to or consult with an experienced HIV-2 clinical management specialist.

In addition to monitoring ART, patients with HIV-2 require the same laboratory and diagnostic testing, use and appropriate discontinuation of prophylaxis for opportunistic infections, and use of immunizations as patients with HIV-1 (see the NYSDOH AI guideline Immunizations for Adults With HIV).

KEY POINT
  • In New York State, the standard of care for individuals with HIV-2 is to initiate and maintain ART to achieve an undetectable HIV-2 viral load.
References

Ba S, Raugi DN, Smith RA, et al. A trial of a single tablet regimen of elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for the initial treatment of HIV-2 infection in a resource-limited setting: 48 week results from Senegal, West Africa. Clin Infect Dis 2018;67(10):1588-1594. [PMID: 29672676] 

Gottlieb G, Badiane NM, Hawes SE, et al. Emergence of multiclass drug-resistance in HIV-2 in antiretroviral-treated individuals in Senegal: implications for HIV-2 treatment in resouce-limited West Africa. Clin Infect Dis 2009;48(4):476-483. [PMID: 19143530] 

Li R, Duffee D, Gbadamosi-Akindele MF. StatPearls: CD4 count. 2022 May 8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470231/ [accessed 2022 Jun 21]

Matheron S, Descamps D, Gallien S, et al. First-line raltegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir combination in human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) infection: A phase 2, noncomparative trial (ANRS 159 HIV-2). Clin Infect Dis 2018;67(8):1161-1167. [PMID: 29590335] 

Raugi DN, Ba S, Cisse O, et al. Long-term experience and outcomes of programmatic antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus type 2 infection in Senegal, West Africa. Clin Infect Dis 2021;72(3):369-378. [PMID: 33527119] 

Wittkop L, Arsandaux J, Trevino A, et al. CD4 cell count response to first-line combination ART in HIV-2+ patients compared with HIV-1+ patients: a multinational, multicohort European study. J Antimicrob Chemother 2017;72(10):2869-2878. [PMID: 29091198] 

Management of HIV-2 in Pregnancy

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Reviewed and updated: Sanjiv S. Shah, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, with the Medical Care Criteria Committee; August 31, 2022

RECOMMENDATIONS
Management of HIV-2 in Pregnancy
  • Clinicians should recommend ART for all pregnant individuals with HIV-2. (A2†)
  • In selecting an ART regimen for a pregnant individual with HIV-2, clinicians should not include:
    • Boosted ATV, because of its lack of efficacy against HIV-2. (A*)
    • EFV and RPV, the NNRTIs recommended for treatment of HIV-1 during pregnancy, because of a lack of efficacy against HIV-2. (A*)

———
Abbreviations: ART, antiretroviral therapy; ATV, atazanavir; DHHS, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; EFV, efavirenz; NNRTI, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor; RPV, rilpivirine.

Note:

  1. For recommendations regarding administration of zidovudine for prophylaxis during labor and delivery, see the DHHS guideline Recommendations for the Use of Antiretroviral Drugs During Pregnancy and Interventions to Reduce Perinatal HIV Transmission in the United States > Special Populations: HIV-2 Infection and Pregnancy.

A combination of abacavir/lamivudine (3TC) (if HLA-B*5701 is negative) or tenofovir alafenamide/emtricitabine (FTC) or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF/FTC) or TDF/3TC plus dolutegravir or twice-daily raltegravir or twice daily ritonavir-boosted darunavir is recommended during pregnancy (see Table 3, below). For individuals with HIV-2, viral load monitoring during pregnancy and prophylactic ART for the HIV-2-exposed infant should follow the recommendations for pregnancy and infant exposure to HIV-1 (see the DHHS guideline Recommendations for the Use of Antiretroviral Drugs During Pregnancy and Interventions to Reduce Perinatal HIV Transmission in the United States > Special Populations: HIV-2 Infection and Pregnancy). During the early part of pregnancy, it is important that healthcare providers follow the Wadsworth Center protocol for accurate and timely submission of specimens and know the amount of time needed to return the results of HIV-2 viral load testing. For example, the Wadsworth Center Bloodborne Viruses Laboratory is not open on weekends, so if a patient’s blood is drawn on a Thursday or Friday, the separated plasma should be stored at the drawing facility in a freezer and shipped on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday of the following week to ensure weekday delivery to the laboratory.

Serial HIV-2 diagnostic testing in HIV-2-exposed infants to confirm or exclude HIV-2 infection is available free of charge from the Wadsworth Center Bloodborne Viruses Laboratory Services (see Box 1). For diagnostic testing of infants exposed to HIV-2, whole blood collected in an EDTA tube (purple top, prevents blood clotting) must be received in the laboratory within 3 days of collection. Collection kits for pediatric HIV diagnostic testing may be requested from the Wadsworth Center Order Desk at 518-474-4175.

Table 3: ART Regimens for Initial Treatment of Pregnant Adults With HIV-2 [a]

Abacavir/lamivudine (ABC/3TC; Epzicom) if HLA-B*5701 is negative and HBsAg is negative

OR

Tenofovir alafenamide/emtricitabine (TAF/FTC; Descovy)

OR

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC; Truvada)

OR

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/lamivudine (TDF/3TC; multiple brands)

 AND

Dolutegravir (DTG; Tivicay) [b,c]

OR

Raltegravir twice daily (RAL; Isentress)

OR

Ritonavir-boosted darunavir twice daily (DRV/r; Prezista and Norvir)

Notes:

  1. Listed alphabetically; for specific details, see NYSDOH AI guideline Selecting an Initial ART Regimen > Specific Factors to Consider and Discuss With Patients and drug package inserts.
  2. A single-tablet regimen of ABC/3TC/DTG is available.
  3. DTG has been shown to be safe throughout pregnancy [Zash, et al. 2022]. See the statement on Use of Dolutegravir in Individuals of Childbearing Capacity for further discussion.
Reference

Zash R, Holmes LB, Diseko M, et al. Update on neural tube defects with antiretroviral exposure in the Tsepamo Study, Botswana. AIDS; 2022 Jul 29-Aug 2; Montreal, Canada. https://www.natap.org/2022/IAC/IAC_31.htm

Pre- and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV-2

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Reviewed and updated: Sanjiv S. Shah, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, with the Medical Care Criteria Committee; August 31, 2022

RECOMMENDATION
PEP for HIV-2
  • Clinicians should recommend TDF/FTC and RAL as PEP after HIV-2 exposure (3TC may be substituted for FTC). (A2†)

———
Abbreviations: 3TC, lamivudine; DTG; dolutegravir; FTC, emtricitabine; PEP, post-exposure prophylaxis; RAL, raltegravir; TDF, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.

Note:

  1. The recommendation regarding discussion of the small risk of teratogenicity with DTG in the first trimester and the need for birth control while using DTG has been removed. DTG has been shown to be safe throughout pregnancy [Zash, et al. 2022]. See the statement on Use of Dolutegravir in Individuals of Childbearing Capacity for further discussion.

As with HIV-1, TDF/FTC, tenofovir alafenamide/FTC, and cabotegravir are active against HIV-2 [Smith, et al. 2018; Menendez-Arias and Alvarez 2014] and could be used as a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) regimen to prevent HIV-2 infection. For more information on evaluating patients for PrEP, see the NYSDOH AI guideline PrEP to Prevent HIV and Promote Sexual Health.

References

Menendez-Arias L, Alvarez M. Antiretroviral therapy and drug resistance in human immunodeficiency virus type 2 infection. Antiviral Res 2014;102:70-86. [PMID: 24345729] 

Smith RA, Wu VH, Zavala CG, et al. In vitro antiviral activity of cabotegravir against HIV-2. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2018;62(10):e01299-01218. [PMID: 30012774] 

Zash R, Holmes LB, Diseko M, et al. Update on neural tube defects with antiretroviral exposure in the Tsepamo Study, Botswana. AIDS; 2022 Jul 29-Aug 2; Montreal, Canada. https://www.natap.org/2022/IAC/IAC_31.htm

All Recommendations

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Reviewed and updated: Sanjiv S. Shah, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, with the Medical Care Criteria Committee; August 31, 2022

ALL RECOMMENDATIONS: DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF HIV-2 IN ADULTS
Diagnosis of HIV-2
  • To diagnose HIV-2 infection, clinicians should follow the standard HIV laboratory testing algorithm. (A1)
  • In individuals who are confirmed to have HIV-2 antibodies, clinicians should perform a clinical evaluation for HIV-2 infection that is similar in scope to the evaluation of patients with HIV-1. (A1) HIV-2 antibodies are confirmed by a reactive result to an HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab combination immunoassay and a positive result for HIV-2 Abs on an FDA-approved supplemental HIV-1/HIV-2 Ab differentiation immunoassay.
Treatment of HIV-2
  • Clinicians should recommend ART for all individuals diagnosed with HIV-2. (A2†)
  • Before initiating ART in patients with HIV-2, clinicians should perform all of the standard laboratory testing recommended for patients with HIV-1 except for HIV drug resistance testing, which is not available. (A3)
  • Clinicians should not prescribe any NNRTI for the treatment of HIV-2 infection. (A*)
  • Clinicians should recommend a single-tablet regimen that includes 2 NRTIs plus an INSTI as the initial treatment for adults with HIV-2 who are not pregnant and not planning to become pregnant, including those with acute HIV-2 infection. (A2)
  • For individuals with HIV-1/HIV-2 coinfection, clinicians should:
    • Perform HIV-1 drug resistance testing to guide the choice of an initial regimen or to modify a regimen if virologic failure develops. (A2)
    • Recommend an ART regimen that will suppress both viruses effectively. (A*)
Monitoring ART
  • Clinicians should monitor the virologic and immunologic status of patients with HIV-2 by performing viral load and CD4 count testing at the same intervals recommended for patients with HIV-1.
    • Because HIV-2 viral load testing is available in New York State only through the Wadsworth Center, clinicians who do not have access to Wadsworth Center laboratory testing services should refer patients to practices that do. (A3)
    • Clinicians should continue to monitor CD4 count every 6 months in all patients with HIV-2, even those with persistent viral suppression. (B2)
    • See the NYSDOH AI guideline Virologic and Immunologic Monitoring in HIV Care > Viral Load and CD4 Count Monitoring Intervals.
  • If HIV-2 viral load testing is not available, clinicians should suspect treatment failure if patients experience a sustained decrease in CD4 count, defined as a 30% decrease in CD4 count or a 3-point decrease in CD4%, confirmed by repeat testing (B2), or have clinical disease progression. (A2)
  • If patients with HIV-2 have either virologic or immunologic treatment failure, clinicians should consult with an experienced HIV-2 clinical management specialist. (A3)
Management of HIV-2 in Pregnancy
  • Clinicians should recommend ART for all pregnant individuals with HIV-2. (A2†)
  • In selecting an ART regimen for a pregnant individual with HIV-2, clinicians should not include:
    • Boosted ATV, because of its lack of efficacy against HIV-2. (A*)
    • EFV and RPV, the NNRTIs recommended for treatment of HIV-1 during pregnancy, because of a lack of efficacy against HIV-2. (A*)
PEP for HIV-2
  • Clinicians should recommend TDF/FTC and RAL as PEP after HIV-2 exposure (3TC may be substituted for FTC). (A2†)

———
Abbreviations: Ab, antibody; Ag, antigen; ART, antiretroviral therapy; ATV, atazanavir; DHHS, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; EFV, efavirenz; FDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; INSTI, integrase strand transfer inhibitor; NNRTI, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor; NRTI, nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor; RPV, rilpivirine.

Notes:

  1. For recommendations regarding administration of zidovudine for prophylaxis during labor and delivery, see the DHHS guideline Recommendations for the Use of Antiretroviral Drugs During Pregnancy and Interventions to Reduce Perinatal HIV Transmission in the United States > Special Populations: HIV-2 Infection and Pregnancy.
  2. The recommendation regarding discussion of the small risk of teratogenicity with DTG in the first trimester and the need for birth control while using DTG has been removed. DTG has been shown to be safe throughout pregnancy [Zash, et al. 2022]. See the statement on Use of Dolutegravir in Individuals of Childbearing Capacity for further discussion.
Reference

Zash R, Holmes LB, Diseko M, et al. Update on neural tube defects with antiretroviral exposure in the Tsepamo Study, Botswana. AIDS; 2022 Jul 29-Aug 2; Montreal, Canada. https://www.natap.org/2022/IAC/IAC_31.htm

Guideline Information and Updates

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Guideline Information
Intended users

New York State clinicians who may diagnose and treat adults with HIV-2 infection
Last reviewed and updated

August 31, 2022
Lead author

Sanjiv S. Shah, MD, MPH, AAHIVS
Original publication

June 2019
Writing group

Steven M. Fine, MD, PhD; Rona M. Vail, MD; Joseph P. McGowan, MD; Samuel T. Merrick, MD; Asa E. Radix, MD, MPH, PhD; Christopher J. Hoffmann, MD, MPH; Charles J. Gonzalez, MD
Committee

Medical Care Criteria Committee
Developer and funding

New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute (NYSDOH AI)
Development

See Guideline Development and Recommendation Ratings Scheme, below.
Peer Reviewers
  • Geoffrey S. Gottlieb, MD, PhD, University of Washington School of Medicine
  • Julie Hoffman, MD, NYC Health and Hospitals, Jacobi
Updates

August 31, 2022

Sanjiv S. Shah, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, with the MCCC: 

October 2021

 Recommended initial ART regimens were updated to reflect corresponding updates to the NYSDOH AI guideline Selecting an Initial ART Regimen. DTG before 8 weeks of pregnancy was removed from the list of ART regimens to avoid for a pregnant individual with HIV-2.

September 2020

 Treatment of HIV-2: Text added: “The recently approved attachment inhibitor fostemsavir has no activity against HIV-2 [FDA 2020]. Ibalizumab (IBA), a humanized monoclonal IgG-4 antibody that prevents HIV cell entry by binding to the host CD4 receptor, has in vitro evidence of activity against HIV-2 with IC50 levels comparable to those found in HIV-1 group M strains [Le Hingrat, et al. 2022]. However, the in vivo efficacy of an IBA-containing regimen in individuals with antiretroviral-resistant HIV-2 infection has not been established.”
Guideline Development: New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute Clinical Guidelines Program
Developer New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute (NYS DOH AI) Clinical Guidelines Program
Funding Source NYSDOH AI
Program Manager

Clinical Guidelines Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases. See Program Leadership and Staff.
Mission To produce and disseminate evidence-based, state-of-the-art clinical practice guidelines that establish uniform standards of care for practitioners who provide prevention or treatment of HIV, viral hepatitis, other sexually transmitted infections, and substance use disorders for adults throughout New York State in the wide array of settings in which those services are delivered.
Expert Committees

The NYSDOH AI Medical Director invites and appoints committees of clinical and public health experts from throughout NYS to ensure that the guidelines are practical, immediately applicable, and meet the needs of care providers and stakeholders in all major regions of NYS, all relevant clinical practice settings, key NYS agencies, and community service organizations.
Committee Structure
  • Leadership: AI-appointed chair, vice chair(s), chair emeritus, clinical specialist(s), JHU Guidelines Program Director, AI Medical Director, AI Clinical Consultant, AVAC community advisor
  • Contributing members
  • Guideline writing groups: Lead author, coauthors if applicable, and all committee leaders
Conflicts of Interest Disclosure and Management
  • Annual disclosure of financial relationships with commercial entities for the 12 months prior and upcoming is required of all individuals who work with the guidelines program, and includes disclosure for partners or spouses and primary professional affiliation.
  • The NYSDOH AI assesses all reported financial relationships to determine the potential for undue influence on guideline recommendations and, when indicated, denies participation in the program or formulates a plan to manage potential conflicts.
  • Disclosures are listed for each committee member.
Evidence Collection and Review
  • Literature search and review strategy is defined by the guideline lead author based on the defined scope of a new guideline or update.
  • A comprehensive literature search and review is conducted for a new guideline or an extensive update using PubMed, other pertinent databases of peer-reviewed literature, and relevant conference abstracts to establish the evidence base for guideline recommendations.
  • A targeted search and review to identify recently published evidence is conducted for guidelines published within the previous 3 years.
  • Title, abstract, and article reviews are performed by the lead author. The JHU editorial team collates evidence and creates and maintains an evidence table for each guideline.
Recommendation Development
  • The lead author drafts recommendations to address the defined scope of the guideline based on available published data.
  • Writing group members review the draft recommendations and evidence and deliberate to revise, refine, and reach consensus on all recommendations.
  • When published data are not available, support for a recommendation may be based on the committee’s expert opinion.
  • The writing group assigns a 2-part rating to each recommendation to indicate the strength of the recommendation and quality of the supporting evidence. The group reviews the evidence, deliberates, and may revise recommendations when required to reach consensus. 
Review and Approval Process
  • Following writing group approval, draft guidelines are reviewed by all contributors, program liaisons, and a volunteer reviewer from the AI Community Advisory Committee.
  • Recommendations must be approved by two-thirds of the full committee. If necessary to achieve consensus, the full committee is invited to deliberate, review the evidence, and revise recommendations when required.
  • Final approval by the committee chair and the NYSDOH AI Medical Director is required for publication.
External Reviewers
  • External peer reviewers recognized for their experience and expertise review guidelines for accuracy, balance, clarity, and practicality and provide feedback.
  • Peer reviewers may include nationally known experts from outside of New York State.
Update Process
  • JHU editorial staff ensure that each guideline is reviewed and determined to be current upon the 3-year anniversary of publication; guidelines that provide clinical recommendations in rapidly changing areas of practice may be reviewed annually. Published literature is surveilled to identify new evidence that may prompt changes to existing recommendations or development of new recommendations.
  • If changes in the standard of care, newly published studies, new drug approval, new drug-related warning, or a public health emergency indicate the need for immediate change to published guidelines, committee leadership will make recommendations and immediate updates.
  • All contributing committee members review and approve substantive changes to, additions to, or deletions of recommendations; JHU editorial staff track, summarize, and publish ongoing guideline changes.
Recommendation Ratings Scheme
Strength Quality of Evidence
Rating Definition Rating Definition
A Strong 1 Based on published results of at least 1 randomized clinical trial with clinical outcomes or validated laboratory endpoints.
B Moderate * Based on either a self-evident conclusion; conclusive, published, in vitro data; or well-established practice that cannot be tested because ethics would preclude a clinical trial.
C Optional 2 Based on published results of at least 1 well-designed, nonrandomized clinical trial or observational cohort study with long-term clinical outcomes.
  2† Extrapolated from published results of well-designed studies (including nonrandomized clinical trials) conducted in populations other than those specifically addressed by a recommendation. The source(s) of the extrapolated evidence and the rationale for the extrapolation are provided in the guideline text. One example would be results of studies conducted predominantly in a subpopulation (e.g., one gender) that the committee determines to be generalizable to the population under consideration in the guideline.
3 Based on committee expert opinion, with rationale provided in the guideline text.