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Treat
Treat people with HIV rapidly and effectively to reach sustained viral suppression
Current HIV treatment guidelines recommend people begin treatment as soon as possible after receiving an HIV diagnosis.
People who have HIV, take medication daily as prescribed, and maintain an undetectable viral load can live long, healthy lives and have effectively no risk of transmitting the virus via sex to an HIV-negative partner. However, treatment is not reaching all populations evenly, and disparities persist by race, ethnicity, and geography. About 80% of HIV infections that occur each year are transmitted by people who are not receiving HIV care.
Additionally, because it’s estimated that nearly 7% of HIV infections are attributed to chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis, effectively diagnosing and treating sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is key.
Local community plans have been developed to lay the foundation for extending HIV treatment and care services to all people with HIV, especially to populations disproportionately affected by HIV. More than 60% of jurisdictions will expand telemedicine services, especially for rural areas, and rapidly engage people with HIV into care and treatment within a week of receiving a diagnosis.
As part of its role in Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S., CDC:
- Collaborates with partners and providers so people who receive a positive HIV test result are quickly linked to care and receive treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis. Healthcare provider training and education resources on HIV care and treatment from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) are available in communities where CDC has identified a need for HIV testing expansion. In addition, HRSA-supported community health centers and Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program centers in these communities are being funded to provide healthcare and support services for people with newly diagnosed HIV.
- Publishes evidence-based STI diagnostic, management, and treatment recommendations.
- Helps partners expand local programs that identify and follow up with people who have stopped receiving HIV care and treatment. The CDC also provides Data-to-Care tools and approaches to support HIV care and treatment retention.
