The Gap between Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection and Advances in HIV Treatment

In 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidelines recommending that all patients 13–64 years of age be routinely screened for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [1], which was followed in 2009 by similar recommendations from the American College of Physicians [2]. Although the overall impact of these statements on HIV testing and diagnosis remains unclear, the 2 statements warrant reflection in light of the findings by Althoff et al [3] published in this issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases. Although few medical conditions have seen such significant and rapid improvements in morbidity and mortality outcomes due to advances in HIV treatment, a large percentage of HIV-infected patients do not benefit if they remain undiagnosed or without HIV care. The poignant question that Althoff et al [3] consider is whether our ability to apply advances in HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) to our HIV-infected patients has improved along with the effectiveness of therapy. Althoff et al [3] present an analysis of