How do we stop new HIV/AIDS transmissions?

World-wide pandemics have been a part of Dr. Catherine Creticos’ work for more than 30 years as an infectious disease specialist at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago.

Back in the 1980s, it was the HIV/AIDS pandemic; as a fellow, Dr. Creticos participated in the first HIV drug study at the only Midwest site. From there she helped Illinois Masonic create its first 35-bed inpatient unit for these patients.

“I became passionate about this work because I saw people suffering, and although there was no cure, I felt I could still help people and ease their suffering by being present and walking the journey with them, treating what aspects of the disease that were possible, helping them to hope and to keep fighting or support when the fight was no longer possible,” said Dr. Creticos. “One of the first patients I treated in the original treatment study was on the cover of PEOPLE magazine as the face of a person with AIDS being treated with this new drug.  That patient eventually died at Illinois Masonic, and I was able to be his doctor through his entire journey.”

COVID-19 has mirrored the HIV/AIDS pandemic because so much was unknown in the beginning, including how it was transmitted. Patients were dying and those in the health care industry were risking themselves on the front lines, including Dr. Creticos, who had three young children. However, unlike COVID-19, most of the young people being significantly impacted and dying during the early days of HIV/AIDS were gay men, people who injected drugs, and their partners – a group seen as the “throwaways” of society.

Though there’s no vaccine for HIV there are better ways to prevent and manage it so those diagnosed can have a normal life.

Dr. Creticos shares four steps for HIV prevention, testing and treatment:

1. Prevention is key and sometimes free. Before COVID-19, the U.S. was on target to meet its goal of preventing all new HIV infections by 2030. It still can happen if prevention and testing are taken seriously. To avoid transmitting HIV, experts recommend practicing safe sex and using condoms. Also, anyone with an HIV-positive partner, with partners of unknown HIV status or people who inject drugs should take Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) medication, which has a 95% effective rate in avoiding transmission. Check to see if your state or insurance covers this preventative treatment. Some states, including Illinois, offer these pills for free.
2. Get tested. HIV tests should be part of your annual sexually transmitted infection tests with your primary or OB/GYN provider. Gay black males have a 1 in 2 chance of getting HIV in their lifetime and gay Latino males 1 in 3. However, HIV positive diagnoses are increasing among the transgender population, black women, and older women (even within monogamous relationships). Typically test results return within 1-2 days. Rapid tests can give results in minutes. Once notified, you’ll meet with your provider again to discuss treatment.
3. Get treatment. Though there is no cure or vaccine for HIV, there are several options for HIV medicine which is called antiretroviral therapy (ART). Whatever you decide the key is to maintain and stay on treatment for your health and the health of others. Currently, there are several choices for long-term therapy and many patients can be treated with taking a single tablet, once a day. Side effects are much fewer today than in the earlier years of treatment and are more manageable.
4. HIV positive patients should get the COVID-19 vaccine. Creticos highly recommends her HIV patients get the COVID-19 vaccine.

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