Background/introduction:
In order to prevent Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) transmission, there are now a number of strategies for individuals for whom condoms are not acceptable, including Behaviour Change clinics and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). In order to utilise these resources effectively, prevention strategies need to focus on those at high risk of acquiring HIV. 

Aim(s)/objectives:
The aim was to identify individuals in our cohort diagnosed with recently acquired HIV infection and to see whether they had been accurately identified as high risk, and what strategies had been employed. 

Methods:
Electronic patient records of patients diagnosed HIV positive at an urban sexual health centre over a two year period were reviewed for timing of acquiring infection and previous engagement with sexual health services. Recently acquired infections were determined by: positive avidity, negative test in 6 months prior to positive test or seroconversion symptoms in the prior 6 months, as recalled by the patient.

Results:
68 patients were diagnosed with HIV; 30 (44.1%) were recently acquired infections. Of these 30, 15 (50%) had attended a sexual health service in the year prior, 14 (93.3%) of whom had been identified at risk and had risks discussed by a healthcare professional.

Discussion/conclusion:
Half of our patients with recently acquired HIV had had contact with sexual health services in the year before their diagnosis, and the vast majority were identified at high risk. Being able to correctly identify patients at high risk of HIV has implications for using strategies such as PrEP in the future.

Diagnosing recent HIV infection in an urban sexual health centre: could more have be done to prevent acquisition?