Conversations with CEI

In this episode, Dr. Marguerite Urban and Dr. Daniela DiMarco pick up from the November 2023 episode of Conversations with CEI, where they talked about Doxy-PEP for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) covering updates on doxy-PEP since the last episode, and delving deeper into some unique aspects. Drs. Urban and DiMarco are infectious disease faculty members at the University of Rochester, specializing in sexua...

Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. It is also a movement for social justice build on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of people who use drugs. With its introduction as a U.S. Federal Drug Policy Priority in 2022, harm reduction has been in the news a lot lately. This episode will build on the momentum by discussing action steps that cli...

RSV vaccine for adults has recently become available and can protect against severe disease or death from one of the main causes of upper respiratory infections. HIV patients are asking if they should receive the vaccine. This question is discussed by Dr. Steven Fine. Related Content:

• Respiratory syncytial virus in adults with severe acute respiratory illness in a high HIV prevalence setting: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf...

Compared with the general population, transgender and gender diverse people are more likely to experience poor health outcomes, such as chronic health conditions, HIV, substance use, and mental illness. We know these disparities are due structural factors, such as political and economic policies, and interpersonal factors, such as discrimination, stigma, and violence. Transgender people are also more likely to encounter barriers to...

In this episode, Dr. Marguerite Urban and Dr. Daniela DiMarco discuss Doxy-PEP, a new tool for the prevention of bacterial STIs.  Drs. Urban and DiMarco are infectious disease faculty members at the University of Rochester, specializing in sexual health care. They were part of the team who authored the recently released New York State (NYS) Department of Health (DOH)  AIDS Institute’s guidelines regarding Doxy-PEP.

This episode is ...

The United States is in the midst of an overdose crisis that’s been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and increased toxicity of the drug supply, largely a result of adulterants like fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. In 2021, the number of deaths in New York State alone surged to more than 5,800 individuals – an average of nearly 16 people every day.

Scaling up harm reduction interventions has helped avert thousands of overdo...

HIV patients are known to have up to a two-fold increase in heart-related events, compared with the general population. Could treatment with statins reduce this risk?

Dr. Steven Fine, an infectious disease specialist affiliated with the University of Rochester, reviews the recently published results of the REPRIEVE trial. The big picture is a 35% reduction in heart-related events. Dr. Fine digs into the details and statistics of th...

The clinical innovation of antiretroviral treatment for HIV is a major public health victory that has transformed the shape of the epidemic. Healthcare professionals must remain committed to reaching every person with HIV, which means not only developing new clinical technologies, but also the strategies to implement them equitably. Long-acting injectable antiretroviral treatment (LAI-ART) is the newest clinical tool for ending the...

In this episode, Dr. Marguerite Urban chats with Drs. Rachel Hart-Malloy and Wilson Miranda from the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute Office of Sexual Health and Epidemiology (OSHE) to discuss how clinicians and the Department of Health can collaborate to tackle the significant increases in cases of syphilis and congenital syphilis reported in New York State. What is the Office of Sexual Health and Epidemiology? A...

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health problem responsible for substantial morbidity, including cirrhosis and liver cancer, and mortality. In 2021, over 6,500 new cases were reported in New York State, many of which occurred in younger people as a result of injection drug use. Although we have highly  effective treatments available for HCV, many people face numerous barriers to accessing them. With the ongoing o...

In this episode, Dr. Steven Fine, an infectious disease specialist affiliated with the University of Rochester and Anthony Jordan Health Center explains the pros and cons behind the newly approved Lenacapavir (Sunlenca) injectable for HIV. Dr. Fine receives a lot of questions about the medication in his practice. Many patients have heard good things about the new treatment for HIV that is given as a subcutaneous injection once ever...

One recent study shows that only 4% of trans youth with supportive parents attempted suicide, while 57% with unsupportive parents committed suicide…

In the current political landscape, transgender healthcare and rights have been used to stoke political divisiveness, creating confusion and perpetuating misinformation. As healthcare providers, it is important to focus on the facts and how to provide inclusive care and support the hea...

In this episode host Melinda Godfrey, a Nurse Practitioner at the University of Rochester, and Program Manager of the Congenital Syphilis Prevention Project, (part of the NYS CEI Sexual Health Center of Excellence) speaks with special guest Dr. Geoffrey Weinberg, Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Weinberg is the Clinical Director of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Ped...

In this episode host Lauren Walker, Program Director for the Hep C and Drug User Health Center of Excellence at CEI, speaks with special guests Dr. Sharon Stancliff and NYSDOH’s Lisa Skill about the increasing health threat posed by Xylazine.

Dr. Stancliff is Associate Medical Director of Harm Reduction in Healthcare and Medical Director of Harm Reduction in Healthcare, AIDS Institute, NYSDOH. She has been working with people who u...

Preventing perinatal HIV transmission is an important strategy for eliminating HIV. Historically, rates of perinatal HIV transmission were 25-40% without interventions, but advances in HIV research, prevention, and treatment have made it possible to reduce that risk to less than 1%. Despite this progress, many myths and misconceptions about HIV and pregnancy remain. In this episode, Dr. Antonio E. Urbina, Medical Director of CEI’s ...

Reproductive healthcare is a critical part of healthcare overall. Yet components of this care, including abortion, are becoming more and more inaccessible to certain parts of the population, worsened by the overturning of Roe vs. Wade. The implications of this decision on access to care, marginalization and inequity are already being seen and causing substantial concern within the medical community.

In this episode, Dr. Erica Bosti...

Hepatitis C is the most commonly reported blood-borne infection in the US, responsible for more deaths than all 60 reportable infectious diseases combined. Once most prevalent among “Baby Boomers” or those born between 1945 and 1965, the current hepatitis C burden disproportionately affects young adults who inject drugs, including women of childbearing age. Because of this epidemiological shift, perinatal transmission – which happe...

HIV and Hepatitis B share similar routes of transmission. In United States, a large cohort study of patients with HIV showed that over 10 % of men who had sex with men, over 8% of those who injected drugs and over 5% of heterosexual individuals with risk factors tested positive for HBsAg or detectable HBV DNA. Because of the shared transmission routes, there is an increased risk of HIV and HBV co-infection. Despite the advancement ...