Jose A Pérez-Molina1, Angela Martinez-Perez2, Nuria Serre3, Begoña Treviño3, José Manuel Ruiz-Giardín4, Diego Torrús5, Josune Goikoetxea6, Esteban Martín Echevarría7, Eduardo Malmierca8, Gerardo Rojo9, Eva Calabuig10, Belén Gutierrez11, Francesca Norman2, Rogelio Lopez-Velez2. 1. Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: jose.perezmolina@gmail.com. 2. Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain. 3. Unitat de Salut Internacional Drassanes, PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain. 4. Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain. 5. Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain. 6. Hospital Universitario Cruces de Barakaldo, Bilbao, Spain. 7. Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Spain. 8. Hospital Universitario Infanta Sofía, San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid, Spain. 9. Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain. 10. Hospital Universitario La Fe de Valencia, Valencia, Spain. 11. Hospital Universitario Virgen de La Macarena de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The improvement in the prognosis of HIV infection, coupled with the increase in international travel and migration, has led to a rising number of HIV infected travelers. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical features of returning travelers, according to their HIV status. METHODS: An observational prospective study was conducted including travelers and immigrants who traveled to visit friends and relatives (VFRs) registered in the +REDIVI collaborative network (January-2009; October-2014). +REDIVI is a national network that registers information regarding infections imported by travelers and immigrants at 21 different centers using a standardized protocol. RESULTS: A total of 3464 travellers were identified: 72 were HIV+ (2.1%) and 3.392 HIV- (98%). HIV+ vs. HIV- travelers were often older (40.5y vs. 34.2y P=.001), VFRs (79.1% vs. 44.4%; P<.001), and consulted less for pre-travel advice (27% vs. 37%; P=.078). The main destinations for both groups were sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. The most frequent reasons for consultation after travel were fever, request for a health examination, gastrointestinal complaints, and abnormal laboratory tests (mainly eosinophilia and anemia), which differed between groups. The most frequent diagnoses in HIV+ travelers were malaria (38.8%), newly diagnosed HIV infection (25%), and intestinal parasites (19.4%), while for HIV- travelers the main diagnoses were "healthy" (17.9%), malaria (14%), and intestinal parasites (17.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The typical profile of an HIV+ traveler in +REDIVI was that of a VFR traveler who did not seek pre-travel advice and made high-risk trips. This may increase the chance of acquiring travel-related infections which may pose a special risk for HIV-infected travelers. The post-travel visit was a good opportunity for HIV infection screening.
INTRODUCTION: The improvement in the prognosis of HIV infection, coupled with the increase in international travel and migration, has led to a rising number of HIV infected travelers. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical features of returning travelers, according to their HIV status. METHODS: An observational prospective study was conducted including travelers and immigrants who traveled to visit friends and relatives (VFRs) registered in the +REDIVI collaborative network (January-2009; October-2014). +REDIVI is a national network that registers information regarding infections imported by travelers and immigrants at 21 different centers using a standardized protocol. RESULTS: A total of 3464 travellers were identified: 72 were HIV+ (2.1%) and 3.392 HIV- (98%). HIV+ vs. HIV- travelers were often older (40.5y vs. 34.2y P=.001), VFRs (79.1% vs. 44.4%; P<.001), and consulted less for pre-travel advice (27% vs. 37%; P=.078). The main destinations for both groups were sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. The most frequent reasons for consultation after travel were fever, request for a health examination, gastrointestinal complaints, and abnormal laboratory tests (mainly eosinophilia and anemia), which differed between groups. The most frequent diagnoses in HIV+ travelers were malaria (38.8%), newly diagnosed HIV infection (25%), and intestinal parasites (19.4%), while for HIV- travelers the main diagnoses were "healthy" (17.9%), malaria (14%), and intestinal parasites (17.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The typical profile of an HIV+ traveler in +REDIVI was that of a VFR traveler who did not seek pre-travel advice and made high-risk trips. This may increase the chance of acquiring travel-related infections which may pose a special risk for HIV-infected travelers. The post-travel visit was a good opportunity for HIV infection screening.
Authors: Jean-Médard Kankou; Olivier Bouchaud; Nathalie Lele; Marguerite Guiguet; Bruno Spire; Maria Patrizia Carrieri; Sophie Abgrall Journal: J Immigr Minor Health Date: 2019-12