Congenital Syphilis Cases on the Rise
Congenital syphilis cases reported to the Texas Department of State Health Services increased by more than 40% last year amid an ongoing increase in syphilis among women of childbearing age and an enhanced public health effort to detect and track cases. There were 528 cases of congenital syphilis in Texas in 2019, up from 367 in 2018.
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Shortage of STI Test Kits and Laboratory Supplies
There is a current shortage of STI test kits and laboratory supplies, most notably for chlamydia and gonorrhea nucleic acid amplification tests (CT/GC NAAT). The shortages affect multiple diagnostic companies, public health and commercial laboratories. and impact several components of the specimen collection and testing process. Learn more about the shortage and the prioritization of testing while a solution to the shortage is found (PDF : 57 kB).
Home Testing and Home Self-Collection Guidance Roll-Out
DSHS provided interim guidance on the creation of policies for the use of FDA approved home testing kits for HIV, and Laboratory Developed Tests for self collection kits for HIV, STDs, hepatitis C, and tests required for PrEP prescriptions. This interim guidance is intended for use by programs funded or otherwise supported by the DSHS TB/HIV/STD Section. Learn more (PDF : 1,740 kB) | Home Testing and Self Collection Guidance (Word : 52 kB)
CDC Releases Update on Status of HIV Testing, Viral Suppression, and PrEP
CDC released Vital Signs: Status of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing, Viral Suppression, and HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis — United States, 2013–2018 [CDC] on December 3, 2019.
Treatment as Prevention
The CDC recently released a letter encouraging providers to continue spreading the word about the power of viral suppression to improve the health of people with HIV and to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV. For Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), the science is strong and clear; the data show that the effectiveness for ART with viral suppression is estimated to be 100% for preventing sexual transmission of HIV.
Read the letter (PDF : 210 kB).
Health Advisory: Rapidly Growing Clusters of Ongoing HIV Transmission in Texas
DSHS encourages Texas healthcare providers to enhance efforts to prevent, diagnose and treat HIV in the wake of 16 rapidly growing clusters of HIV infections in the state. Laboratory analysis of these infections indicates sustained transmission of genetically similar types of HIV... read the Health Advisory: Rapidly Growing Clusters of Ongoing HIV Transmission in Texas (PDF : 327 kB) and
read the Molecular HIV Surveillance - Genotype Clusters Talking Points (PDF : 189 kB)
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