Globally, an estimated 35 million people were living with HIV in 2012; of these, 69 % in sub-Saharan Africa. There were 2.3 million new HIV infections globally and 1.6 million AIDS deaths in 2012. As a result of large roll-out programs with integrated ...

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) establishes a chronic, lifelong infection finally leading to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which is characterized by the onset of opportunistic infections and tumors. The natural course of ...

The diagnosis “HIV infection” has severe consequences. False positive or false negative HIV results must be avoided. The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health generated a concept for HIV testing which also includes the characterization of HIV for optimal ...

Antiretroviral therapy to treat HIV, as we know it today, is nothing less than a huge success story in modern medical history. What used to be an almost certain death-sentence was transformed into a very manageable chronic disease by means of highly ...

Primary HIV-infection (PHI) encompasses the first 6 months after HIV infection. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrates that PHI accounts for approximately half of onward transmissions. Between 25 and 90 % of patients with PHI present with an acute retroviral ...

Incidence as well as morbidity and mortality of opportunistic infections (OI) have declined remarkably since the availability of antiretroviral treatment (ART). Nearly half of all persons infected with HIV however do not know their HIV-status, and the ...

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved quality of life and increased life expectancy of HIV-infected individuals. Opportunistic diseases are less common, and mortality has declined. Consequently, patterns of mortality and morbidity are changing among ...

Hepatitis B and C virus infections are a leading cause of death in HIV-positive patients. Furthermore, the management of these infections is complicated. Psychosocial problems and comorbidities are frequent barriers to the optimal management of these ...

The use and success of antiretroviral treatment in HIV-positive people has led to a reduction of vertical transmission of HIV. Pregnancy in HIV-positive women became more common. The success of prophylactic measures has led to a dramatic change in care of ...

The frequency of HIV mother-to-child transmission in Switzerland is nowadays < 1 %, if the pregnant woman receives successful anti-HIV treatment and the newborn apt post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and is not breast-fed. The interdisciplinary approach in ...

Psychological and social factors have a deep impact on the treatment of HIV-infection, from the readiness to start antiretroviral therapy to treatment adherence over time. Among psychological factors, anxiety may affect HIV-infected persons in all stages ...

The number of new HIV-1 infections remains stable in Switzerland over the last years thanks to the effective prevention programs. However, the aim to halve the new HIV infection rate has not been reached. Early identification of patients at risk of ...