HIV Experts & Evidence™: Evolving Models of HIV Care (Volume 1) - Rapid ART Initiation: A New Addition to the HIV-Care Tool Box

Best practice recommendations for treatment of patients infected with HIV are continually evolving and now include strategies related to early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART).1 The results of pivotal clinical trials have demonstrated not only the benefits of early and continuous ART for long-term health outcomes in people living with HIV,2,3 but also a profound decrease in HIV transmission.4 Same-day HIV diagnosis and treatment approaches have been developed to minimize the rate of attrition that occurs in the interval between diagnosis and initiation of ART, and to address the barriers that often lead to delayed treatment.5 Although the body of literature documenting the success and feasibility of same-day–start protocols is growing,6 most HIV-care clinicians are not fully aware of the benefits of these strategies, and even fewer provide patients with an opportunity to initiate rapid, same-day ART regimens. Geared to the needs of HIV-specialist clinicians, this HIV Experts and Evidence™ live meeting series will present updates to the national HIV elimination goals, review recent data related to rapid ART initiation, and offer solutions to logistical and clinical barriers that can impede patient access to appropriate same-day ART regimens for new HIV infections.