HIV and other ITSS | Montreal welcomes researchers

Three years after the World Conference on AIDS, Montreal welcomes the other important meeting in the field, which will bring together 1,500 researchers and activists to discuss home tests, prevention with artificial intelligence, generalized sexual assaults and Trump administration cuts.

Screening

One of the revolutions that announces is self -destination at the HOUSE DU HIV and sexually transmitted infections. “In a few years, it will probably be possible to do home tests for many infections transmitted sexually and by blood (ITSS),” says the D^r Marc Steben, co -president of the Sti & HIV congress, which takes place from July 26 to 30. “Reliability is surprisingly high. For the test of the human papilloma virus (HPV) in the cervix in Africa, for example, the self -reproduction by the patient has a rate of inadequate specimens of only 1 in 800. I would like that doctors are as good as that. »»

HPV increases the risk of cervical cancer.

The D^r Steben himself carried out a self-destruction of VPH in Eswatini (the name of Swaziland since 2018), in southern Africa. He is a family doctor in Montreal.

Currently, self -destination only concerns the approval. But tests that give the results at home are in preparation. They could be similar to the pregnancy or screening tests of the COVVI-19, with results in the form of bars, or the patient should buy a small device connected to his phone. “We go to a model where people will have control over their screening,” said the D^r Stand.

A Montreal company, Rynd Biotech, has developed a technology allowing a test of gonorrhea screening and chlamydia infection using its cell phone. But in the face of uncertainties on the regulatory approval process of this type of emerging technology, Rynd will first launch a bladder cancer screening test from urine, similar to the COVVI-19 screening test, which will give results to the house, indicates its co-founder, Camille Dodd. Marketing is scheduled for 2028 or 2029.

Prophylaxis

The STI & HIV World Congress will also discuss a major change in the last decade: “pre-exhibition prophylaxis”, or prep, which allows you to have unprotected sex with an nonexistent risk of HIV infection. “We are returned that we can have an injection every six months,” said the D^r Stand.

The “post-exposure prophylaxis” (PPE), on the other hand, avoids HIV infection if it is taken within days of an unprotected relationship with an HIV positive person. And the PPE is now possible for certain sexually transmitted diseases, such as Gonorrhea, under the name of “Doxy PPE”, named doxycycline, an antibiotic. “We thought there was a small problem of resistance to antibiotics with Gonorrhea, but to our surprise, we did not observe it with the doxy-fig,” rejoices the D^r Stand.

The prevalence of Gonorrhea has more than tripled in Quebec for 10 years and is now three times more frequent in men than in women. Some studies have made the link between the popularity of the prep anti-HIV and this rise in Gonorrhea.

Artificial intelligence

Another component that will be addressed at the conference is the use of artificial intelligence. “To have advice, for example where to go for screening and when, some patients prefer to speak to an AI conversational agent with a person, raises the D^r Steben. A patient who is tested every three months does not want to be asked by another person how many sexual partners he has. »»

Donald Trump’s cuts …

The D^r Steben also says that the organization of the congress faces budgetary problems linked to the Trump administration cuts. “We ended up with a hole of about $ 400,000 on a budget of one million. We have the help of medical associations, the Gates Foundation, the Public Health Agency of Canada and the surpluses of the Vancouver Congress in 2019, “he noted.

The registrations of American researchers fell halfway compared to the last congress. “We even had to create a special recording price for all the Americans who lost their laboratory, their subsidies or their work,” explains the doctor.

The sudden reduction in American subsidies to the fight against AIDS and ITSS will force management by developing countries. “We see that in South Africa, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Senegal, people are taking charge,” says the D^r Steben. But it is sure that for a year or two, access to antiretrovirals [médicaments anti-VIH] will be compromised and the incidence will increase. We will see more babies coming to the world with HIV. »»

… And those of Quebec

The D^r Steben also deplores that budgetary compressions and the lack of staff prevent many Quebecers working in the health system from attending the congress. “We have the best researchers in the world who come to show us good practices, but Quebecers will be very limited to participating. »»