REVIEW- "Universal HIV Screening Recommended by USPSTF"

This is a brief review of the medscape article "Universal HIV Screening Recommended by USPSTF" by Laurie Barclay MD

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/774957?src=nldne



     According to the US Preventive Services Task Force, physicians  should screen all patients between the ages of 15 and 65 years for HIV, and  patients of all ages of those who are at increased risk. This is due to better testing procedures and evidence that starting anti retroviral therapy early can lower AIDS-related events or death. The last recommendation for the USPSTF was in 2005. HIV infection occurs approximately 50,000 times each year. One quarter of those infected are aware. HIV is prevalent in approximately 1.2 million people.  1.1 million have been diagnosed with AIDS and over half a  billion people have died from it.