CONNECTIONS
A Bimonthly e-Newsletter
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Director's Update

January - February 2015

Happy New Year! As we enter 2015, I want to highlight CDC’s recent release of Recommendations for HIV Prevention with Adults and Adolescents with HIV in the United States, 2014. Each year we are learning more about how to care for persons with HIV and reduce the risk of HIV transmission. With this growing knowledge, CDC worked in collaboration with several government agencies and non-governmental partner organizations to bring together these comprehensive Recommendations that address the whole spectrum of HIV prevention and care. Linkage to and retention in HIV medical care, adherence to treatment, reduction of perinatal transmission, and improved quality of HIV services must work in tandem to ensure success. As well, myriad players are needed to implement these recommendations, including clinical providers, nonclinical providers, and staff of health departments and HIV planning groups. These recommendations include companion publications that present summary information targeted toward each of the three groups, and an additional online resource library that contains fact sheets, tools, training aids, and other background materials. Together, the recommendations and accompanying resources strengthen the national action plan addressing HIV. Let’s put them to work in the coming year.

STDs Continue to Affect Millions

The recently released 2013 Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Report finds that STDs, particularly chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, continue to affect millions of Americans. There is good news – the report found a 1.5% decrease in the rate of chlamydia infections for 2013, the first decline in this rate since national reporting began. It is too early to tell if this represents a trend that will persist over time. Of concern, though, the new data also show a continuing increase in syphilis rates among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM), who account for 75 percent of all primary and secondary syphilis cases. Having syphilis infection increases the risk for acquiring or transmitting HIV, and several cities reported that about half of MSM diagnosed with syphilis also have HIV. STD epidemics often remain hidden, and reducing the burden of STDs will require approaches at both the individual and community levels.

CDC Launches New NPIN and GetTested Websites

CDC recently launched the redesigned National Prevention Information Network (NPIN) and GetTested websites to be more mobile, social, and searchable! On the new NPIN site, users can search all content across pages and databases from the NPIN home page, using any device – desktop, tablet, or smartphone. In addition, the NPIN Social Community provides a place for public health colleagues to connect online and in real time to exchange ideas and resources.

Meanwhile, CDC’s new GetTested website brings the former HIVTest.org and FINDSTDtest.org sites together into a single resource accessible from any device. The home page features

An assessment tool to assist people in choosing the right tests: Find Free, Fast, and Confidential Testing Near You.
An FAQ page that provides concise answers to common questions on testing, transmission, risks, and prevention.
Did You Know? content that offers informational factoids with actionable messages.

We invite you to explore the new NPIN and GetTested websites and share your feedback with us at npin-info@cdc.gov.