Bruno Spire

French Institute of Health and Medical Research | Inserm · SESSTIM

Introduction In France, over 90% of people living with HIV-1 (PLWH) achieve virological suppression with effective combination of antiretroviral therapies (ART), but limited data exist on the motivation for switching ART. Objective To describe the reasons and determinants for switching ART, with a particular focus on doravirine-based regimens, in...

High HIV prevalence in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) in men who have sex with men (MSM) leads to greater risk for their wives and other steady female partners because of prolonged exposure. To provide insights into the context possibly contributing to the risk of HIV transmission from MSM to women, our mixed-method synthesis about MSM’ marriage and ste...

Background Individuals who have recently acquired HIV represent a unique population because the time frame since HIV acquisition is relatively short and identification of missed HIV prevention opportunities is, therefore, closer to real time and less subject to recall bias. Identifying prevention measures used and missed opportunities for using the...

Introduction In sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), men who have sex with men (MSM) often have female sexual partners. Their overall risk of acquiring HIV is higher with male partners. Risk perception is associated with HIV knowledge, sexual risk and preventive behaviours. This synthesis aimed to summarize existing data about HIV knowledge and perceived HIV...

Background To improve the effectiveness of public health policies, HPV vaccination campaigns target “high-risk groups”, such as men who have sex with men (MSM). In France, HPV vaccination is recommended for MSM up to the age of 26, rather than 19 for the general population. It’s crucial to assess the impact of such targeting policies on MSM who are...

Only one study to date has focused on people living with HIV (PLWH) who refused to participate in a HIV cure/remission-related clinical trial (HCCT)—“decliners” hereafter—that included analytical treatment interruption (ATI). Exploring why these persons refuse may provide valuable information to ensure more ethical recruitment and support in HCCTs...

Chemsex is mostly approached through the prism of risk-taking, neglecting the pleasure and social linking dimensions. However, feedback from the field and few studies highlights a diversity of chemsex practices and relationships to chemsex (RtC). Using Q-methodology, we identified the main RtC and their divergences and convergences, to help develop...

People living with HIV (PLHIV) are at greater risk of illness and death from vaccine-preventable diseases. This study aimed to identify the predictors associated with the recommended vaccination schedule for this group. This was a single-center cross-sectional study conducted in a large Brazilian municipality, evaluating the vaccination statuses of...

BACKGROUND Regular testing is recognized as a key strategy for HIV control. The 2023 Integrated Biological and Behavioral Survey (IBBS) in Cambodia revealed that nearly one third of men who have sex with men (MSM) and one fourth of transgender women (TGW) were never tested for HIV or since more than 12 months. The majority of MSM and TGW were teste...

This is a quasi-experimental study that assessed PLHIV vaccination coverage before and after health professionals participated in a training course on PLHIV immunization. The vaccination coverage of 645 PLHIV was assessed in the pre-intervention phase. The vaccine with the best coverage was diphtheria and tetanus (82.64%) and the one with the lowes...

Background Healthcare delivery in Senegal is hindered by a limited, unequally distributed healthcare workforce, and by inadequate infrastructure which negatively impact access to quality care and good health outcomes. Despite efforts to improve healthcare delivery through Universal Health Coverage (UHC), progress remains insufficient. We investigat...

Vaccination coverage against hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and human papillomaviruses (HPV) is insufficient among men who have sex with men (MSM), partly because of their high prevalence of vaccine hesitancy (VH) specific to these vaccines. This study aimed to investigate determinants of specific VH in MSM, focusing on character...

Objectives Although oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV is being rolled out in West Africa, data on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in PrEP users are scarce. We assessed the prevalence, incidence and determinants of bacterial STIs in men who have sex with men (MSM) taking PrEP in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Togo. Methods...

Introduction Given the high infection rate of sexually transmitted infections (STI) among migrant women sex workers (WSWs), it is necessary to understand how to improve prevention, information and care for this vulnerable population. Community health workers (CHWs), by linking community to health services, are positioned to improve health outcomes...

Introduction In a context of declining condom use and high sexually transmitted infection (STI) incidence, the diffusion of “treatment as prevention” (Tasp) and more recently pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) may have changed the sexual behaviour of newly diagnosed men who have sex with men (MSM) with HIV. Methods Six hundred and nine MSM were enrol...

Background The presence of untreated sexually transmitted infections (STIs) significantly increases the chance of acquiring HIV. In Brazil, testing for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) among Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) users is insufficient, and syndromic treatment is a priority in clinical practice. Multi-site testing...

La recherche communautaire, c’est-à-dire l’implication concrète des populations concernées dans la production des savoirs scientifiques les concernant, est un enjeu politique et une nécessité éthique. Coalition PLUS, réseau international d’organisations luttant contre le VIH et les hépatites (ONG pour la plupart), a créé un laboratoire de recherche...

The HIV epidemics in Cambodia is concentrated in key populations (KPs). Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been officially approved in the country since 2019. However, its use may still be controversial after a PrEP clinical trial was interrupted in Cambodia after being deemed unethical in 2004. In this context, it was necessary to evaluate PrEP a...

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), MSM – a high HIV prevalence group – experience strong social stigma and pressure to have female partners. Accordingly, they could constitute a bridging group for HIV transmission to cisgender women. We developed a multilevel summary of MSM sexual behaviors and risk with women in various SSA regions. Following PRISMA gui...

In developed countries, vaccinations against hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis A (HAV), and human papillomavirus (HPV) are often recommended to men who have sex with men (MSM) because of the risky sexual practices in which some engage. Vaccine coverage against these diseases is not optimal in France, probably due in part to vaccine hesitancy (VH). The o...

Background: Individuals who have recently acquired HIV represent a unique population because the time frame since HIV acquisition is relatively short and identification of missed HIV prevention opportunities is, therefore, closer to real time and less subject to recall bias. Identifying prevention measures used and missed opportunities for using th...

Background A prospective study was extended to the new antiretroviral and monitoring strategies in HIV-infected adults in low-income countries (NAMSAL-ANRS)-12313 trial, a 96-week open-label, multicenter, randomized phase 3 trial comparing dolutegravir (DTG) 50 mg with efavirenz 400 mg (EFV400), both administered with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate...

HIV is highly prevalent in men who have sex with men (MSM) in West Africa. Many MSM in the region also have sex with women (MSMW). Accordingly, they are a potential bridge subpopulation for HIV transmission to women. We aimed to evaluate the proportions and characteristics of West African MSMW at high behavioral risk of acquiring HIV from male part...

Background In the context of the circulation of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant, vaccination re-authorised mass indoor gatherings. The “Indoor Transmission of COVID-19” (ITOC) trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05311865) aimed to assess the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses during an indoor clubbing event among pa...

Bimonthly long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (LAI-PrEP) can become an important additional tool for HIV prevention among West African men who have sex with men (MSM). The objective was to explore the perceived added value of LAI-PrEP as an HIV prevention tool among MSM in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, and Togo. We conducted eight...

Background Partner notification interventions are complex and assessing their effectiveness is challenging. By reviewing the literature on the effectiveness of partner notification interventions, our aim was to evaluate the choice, collection, and interpretation of outcomes and their impact on study findings. Methods We conducted a systematic revi...

Objectives: Recently-acquired HIV is a critical time when people may experience debilitating symptoms and is when they are most likely to pass HIV on. Qualitative research offers insights into lived experiences and a deeper understanding of the contextual factors underlying HIV acquisition. We aimed to synthesize qualitative literature on recently...

Introduction In Southern Africa, men who have sex with men (MSM) face high levels of stigma and heteronormative pressure. Bisexual men constitute an MSM subgroup that should not be neglected in MSM studies or HIV programmes, especially because of the risk of HIV bridging to female partners. We aimed to provide a multi-level synthesis of bisexual me...

Gundo-So is a community-based programme developed by and for women living with HIV (WLHIV) in Mali through the ARCAD-Santé-PLUS association. It provides support, co-constructed with WLHIV, to develop strategies on whether or not to disclose their status. The aim of the ANRS-12373 research is to evaluate the impact of this programme in the short and...

Introduction: Despite the availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and antiretroviral therapy (ART), 21 793 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in Europe in 2019. The Concerted action on seroconversion to AIDS and death in Europe study aims to understand current drivers of the HIV epidemic; factors associated with access to, and uptake of p...

Introduction West African men who have sex with men (MSM) remain at substantial risk of contracting HIV. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can be an effective game-changer in reducing the number of HIV infections in MSM communities. To optimize the roll-out of PrEP, we need to better understand how we can increase its uptake. The objective of this st...

Background: Data on HIV seroconversion among men who have sex with men (MSM) using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in West Africa are needed. This study aimed to document HIV seroconversion and associated determinants, PrEP adherence, plasma drug concentrations, and HIV drug resistance in MSM using event-driven or daily PrEP in Burkina Faso, Côte...

Introduction Since the advent of HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), stigma has been shown to be a major barrier to its uptake and adherence. It is therefore essential to define the proportion of users who consider that PrEP can negatively impact their image and the factors associated with this perception. Method We performed a multivariable logi...

Most domestic servants (DS) in Mali are very young female migrants living in precarious conditions. We aimed to understand their living and working conditions in relation to their general and sexual health. Seven focus groups (53 participants) were conducted by the DS community-based organization ADDAD. Narratives were thematically analyzed using a...

Background: Initiating same-day ART for newly HIV-diagnosed individuals reduces secondary HIV transmissions and the risk of them being lost to follow-up between diagnosis and initiation of ART. Methods: The FAST study was a national, prospective, single-arm study assessing the efficacy, safety and feasibility of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofov...

Background Information concerning the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on populations most affected by HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV; or key populations [KP]), and those working with these populations in community settings, is limited. Community-based organizations working in the field of HIV and viral hepatitis are well placed to identify and...

BACKGROUND Information concerning the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on populations most affected by HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV; or key populations [KP]), and those working with these populations in community settings, is limited. Community-based organizations working in the field of HIV and viral hepatitis are well placed to identify and...

Vaccination against hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) is recommended in men who have sex with men (MSM). We assessed HAV and HBV vaccine uptake in the non-immune participants and their immunisation during follow-up of the ANRS IPERGAY (Intervention Préventive de l'Exposition aux Risques avec et pour les Gays) pre-exposure prophyla...

Background Thanks to direct-acting antivirals, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can be cured, with similar rates in HCV-infected and HIV–HCV co-infected patients. HCV cure is likely to foster behavioral changes in psychoactive substance use, which is highly prevalent in people living with HIV (PLWH). Cannabis is one substance that is very commonly...

Background Antimicrobial resistance to macrolides and fluoroquinolones in Mycoplasma genitalium among men who have sex with men (MSM) is worryingly high in high-resource countries. Data in Africa are lacking. We aimed to assess the burden of M. genitalium including the presence of resistance associated mutations (RAMs) in M. genitalium among MSM us...

Introduction The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic led to the implementation of several non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), from closings of bars and restaurants to curfews and lockdowns. Vaccination campaigns started hoping it could efficiently alleviate NPI. The primary objective of the “Indoor Transmission of COVID-19” (ITOC) study is to determine among...

Loss to follow-up (LTFU) from HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care compromises the goal of HIV elimination. We investigated the proportion of LTFU and associated risk factors among men who have sex with men (MSM) enrolled in a PrEP demonstration project in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, and Togo. CohMSM-PrEP, a prospective cohort study, was...

Objectives To assess the impact on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of different tenofovir disoproxil/emtricitabine dosing regimens for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Patients and methods We included in the study individuals with baseline eGFR > 50 mL/min/1.73 m2 who initiated PrEP in the ongoing ANRS-PREVENIR PrEP cohort. We...

Background & Aims A growing literature shows an improvement of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related depression after successful treatment with direct-acting antivirals. However, depression after HCV cure remains insufficiently documented in people living with HIV (PLWH) and HCV, a population with specific mental health challenges. This study aim...

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization recommends pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for all populations at substantial risk of HIV infection. However, at-risk women very rarely use PrEP in France—this represents a critical issue among migrant women sex workers (MWSWs). Previous studies on PrEP use among women sex workers or migrants focused on indi...

Objective The present study aimed to understand what factors can lead to late HIV diagnosis of illegal gold miners at French Guiana’s border with Brazil. Design An exploratory qualitative study with in-depth interviews and observations was conducted between November 2019 and February 2020. Setting The study was conducted in the main medical healt...

Background: Multiple barriers compromise pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) engagement (i.e., use and adherence) in men who have sex with men (MSM). In low/middle-income countries, little is known about PrEP engagement in this population. In West Africa, the CohMSM-PrEP study was one of the rare interventions providing PrEP to MSM. We estimated PrEP...

Objectives Our objective was to identify missed opportunities for the use of pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in people with recently acquired HIV, factors associated with PrEP knowledge, and reasons for not using PrEP. Design This was a French national cross‐sectional multicentre study enrolling people diagnosed with recent HIV (incomplete Western...

To the Editor—We read with great attention Reddy et al’s practical guide for clinicians on the treatment of tobacco dependence in people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) [1], a problem that needs urgent attention [2]. We would like to provide additional elements that could enhance successful quit attempts by PWH. As Reddy et al indicated, va...

Combination HIV prevention covers a range of biomedical, behavioral, and socio-structural interventions. Despite the growing availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), it is not always accessible in European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reporting countries and may not meet the needs of all at-risk populations. Based on the Flash!...

Background: There are few data available regarding the use of on-demand pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention. We aimed to assess PrEP effectiveness, adherence, and safety in adults using daily or on-demand PrEP. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational cohort study (ANRS PREVENIR) at 26 sites in the Paris region, France. W...

Background Multiple barriers compromise pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) engagement (i.e., use and adherence) in men who have sex with men (MSM). In low/middle-income countries, little is known about PrEP engagement in this population. In West Africa, the CohMSM-PrEP study was one of the rare interventions providing PrEP to MSM. We estimated PrEP us...

We investigated the rate and predictors of ineffective HIV protection in men who have sex with men (MSM) taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in a prospective cohort study from November 2017 to November 2020 in Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Togo. MSM had to be 18 years or older and at high risk of HIV infection to participate. They also...

Background Despite great progress in antiretroviral treatment (ART) access in recent decades, HIV incidence remains high in sub-Saharan Africa. We investigated the role of individual and healthcare supply-related factors in HIV transmission risk in HIV-positive adults enrolled in 19 HIV services in the Centre and Littoral regions of Cameroon. Meth...

Community-based research during a pandemic: reflections from the multi-country EPIC project In 2020, the COVID-19 health crisis affected all regions of the world, not sparing people already vulnerable to other viral epidemics such as HIV or HCV and/or those in precarious or socially marginalized situations. This is particularly the case for drug us...

Background Lockdown measures during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in France led to serious public health concerns over people who use illicit drugs, especially in terms of mental health. We assessed changes in cannabis use during the first lockdown in France among daily cannabis users and associated correlates. Methods CANNAVID is a Fren...

In 2020, the COVID-19 health crisis affected all regions of the world, not sparing people already vulnerable to other viral epidemics such as HIV or HCV and/or those in precarious or socially marginalized situations. This is particularly the case for drug users or sex workers.Coalition PLUS, a network of associations fighting against HIV and viral...

Chemsex—the use of drugs in a sexual context—has been associated with more at-risk sexual practices and substance-related complications in men who have sex with men (MSM). To date, no study has focused on the impact of France’s first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related lockdown on the mental health and drug/alcohol use of MSM who practice c...

Objective: High rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have been reported among PrEP users. We wished to assess the incidence and risk factors for recurrent STIs. Design: The ANRS IPERGAY trial was a prospective study investigating PrEP among MSM and transgender women in outpatient clinics in France and Canada. In all, 429 participants...

Observing sexual behaviour change over time could help develop behavioural HIV prevention interventions for female sex workers in Zambia, where these interventions are lacking. We investigated the evolution of consistent condom use among female sex workers and their clients and steady partners. Participants were recruited into an HIV incidence coho...

Background Access to tailored HIV prevention services remains limited for West African MSM. We assessed adherence to quarterly HIV prevention services and its impact on HIV incidence in MSM followed up in four cities in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, and Togo. Methods We performed a prospective cohort study between 2015 and 2018. HIV-negative...

Introduction Transgender identity is poorly accepted in France, and data on living conditions and the daily difficulties transgender people encounter are scarce. This lack of data reinforces their invisibility in social life, contributes to their stigmatisation and probably increases the burden of HIV infection, especially for HIV-positive transgen...

Objectives We aimed to assess among men who have sex with men (MSM) risk factors for HIV infection, to identify those who require urgent pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) prescription. Methods All participants enrolled in the placebo arm of the ANRS IPERGAY trial, or infected between screening and day 0, were included. Baseline characteristics were...

Objective: To assess the time from HIV diagnosis to ART initiation and the effect of rapid ART initiation (i.e., within seven days of HIV diagnosis) on attrition and virologic and immunologic responses among MSM in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, and Togo. Design: Prospective cohort study between 2015 and 2019. Methods: MSM aged 18 years or...

Introduction La prophylaxie pré exposition (PrEP) est un outil de prévention qui cible les personnes à risque de contamination par le VIH. À ce jour, aucune information n’est disponible concernant la proportion de personnes qui auraient pu bénéficier de la PrEP en France parmi les personnes nouvellement infectées. Matériels et méthodes Enquête nat...

Introduction L’épidémie du VIH reste active en France malgré les différentes actions mises en place parmi lesquelles l’implémentation de la PrEP en 2016 ; mais au sein de l’objectif 90/90/90 fixé par l’OMS, le dépistage en France reste insuffisant. Matériels et méthodes Analyse des données de l’enquête nationale sur les opportunités manquées de Pr...

Background HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) data in men who have sex with men (MSM) in west Africa are essential to guide its large-scale implementation. We assessed the uptake of event-driven and daily PrEP, HIV incidence, and changes over time in sexual behaviours and prevalence of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in MSM in Bur...

We investigated the effect of early antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation on HIV status disclosure and social support in a cluster-randomized, treatment-as-prevention (TasP) trial in rural South Africa. Individuals identified HIV-positive after home-based testing were referred to trial clinics where they were invited to initiate ART immediately...

Objective Although men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk of STI, their access to tailored healthcare services remains limited in West Africa. We assessed the change in STI symptoms incidence over time among MSM enrolled in a quarterly HIV prevention and care programme in four cities in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Togo. Methods...