In 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia estimated that approximately 1 million people in the United States were living with HIV/AIDS, and that approximately 25% of these were undiagnosed and unaware of their HIV infection. For many such patients the ED may be the only part of the health care system that is utilized. In 2006, the CDC revised their recommendations for HIV testing in a variety of care settings including the ED. In spite of this change, most EDs throughout the United States still do not offer routine HIV testing. Implementing successful ED based testing models may lead to greater acceptance of ED based testing, earlier detection, and further reduction in the transmission of HIV in the United States.
Objective
To design and implement an ED based rapid HIV screening program targeting high risk patients presenting with signs, symptoms, or concerns for sexually transmitted diseases; to determine the prevalence rate of HIV infection in the tested population; to determine the proportion of HIV-positive patients with successful linkage to outpatient care after ED discharge.