ECDC releases new standards to improve HIV prevention and care

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), in partnership with the European AIDS Clinical Society (EACS), has published two new sets of European standards for HIV prevention and care. These two modules, focusing on HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), are the first to be released in a series designed to standardise and improve the quality of HIV services across Europe.

The first module, on HIV testing, highlights the importance of making testing more accessible and integrated into routine healthcare, and that diverse testing strategies, including community-based testing and self-testing, to reach key populations, would improve HIV services for people living with HIV.

This module sets a target for 95% of people living with HIV to be aware of their status and aims to observe a decrease in late diagnoses. By establishing clear referral pathways from testing to treatment and care, the standards aim to ensure that a positive diagnosis is followed by timely support and access to antiretroviral therapy (ART).

The second module, dedicated to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), outlines best practices for its delivery and implementation across Europe. The standards detail the necessary clinical safety considerations for initiating PrEP, including reliable HIV testing to prevent the development of drug resistance, and highlight the need for integrated services that include screening for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and viral hepatitis. These services should be offered alongside comprehensive care that addresses adherence and offers alternative prevention methods such as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) when needed.

ECDC, with EACS, is developing further modules to cover other areas of HIV care, including antenatal screening, commencement of ART, and the management of HIV and co-morbidities. By providing a framework for auditing and quality improvement, these standards will support countries in their efforts to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. The active involvement of clinical experts, public health practitioners, and community representatives from across Europe in the development of these standards ensures they are both ambitious and achievable.

Access the publications here.