Employing Molecular Phylodynamic Methods to Identify and Forecast HIV Transmission Clusters in Public Health Settings: A Qualitative Study

Florida Department of Health, Division of Disease Control and Health Protection, Bureau of Communicable Diseases, HIV/AIDS Section, Tallahassee, FL 32399, USA

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Division of Public Health, Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, NC 27699, USA

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Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Public Health Laboratories, Jacksonville, FL 32202, USA

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Theoretical Biology & Biophysics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA

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Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA

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Advanced Plant Technology Program, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Viruses 2020, 12(9), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/v12090921

Received: 19 July 2020 / Revised: 18 August 2020 / Accepted: 21 August 2020 / Published: 22 August 2020

(This article belongs to the Special Issue HIV Molecular Epidemiology for Prevention 2020)

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Abstract

Molecular HIV surveillance is a promising public health strategy for curbing the HIV epidemic. Clustering technologies used by health departments to date are limited in their ability to infer/forecast cluster growth trajectories. Resolution of the spatiotemporal dynamics of clusters, through phylodynamic and phylogeographic modelling, is one potential strategy to develop a forecasting tool; however, the projected utility of this approach needs assessment. Prior to incorporating novel phylodynamic-based molecular surveillance tools, we sought to identify possible issues related to their feasibility, acceptability, interpretation, and utility. Qualitative data were collected via focus groups among field experts (n = 17, 52.9% female) using semi-structured, open-ended questions. Data were coded using an iterative process, first through the development of provisional themes and subthemes, followed by independent line-by-line coding by two coders. Most participants routinely used molecular methods for HIV surveillance. All agreed that linking molecular sequences to epidemiological data is important for improving HIV surveillance. We found that, in addition to methodological challenges, a variety of implementation barriers are expected in relation to the uptake of phylodynamic methods for HIV surveillance. The participants identified several opportunities to enhance current methods, as well as increase the usability and utility of promising works-in-progress. View Full-Text

Keywords: molecular epidemiology; HIV phylogenetics; surveillance; HIV prevention; qualitative research; focus groups

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MDPI and ACS Style

Rich, S.N.; Richards, V.L.; Mavian, C.N.; Switzer, W.M.; Rife Magalis, B.; Poschman, K.; Geary, S.; Broadway, S.E.; Bennett, S.B.; Blanton, J.; Leitner, T.; Boatwright, J.L.; Stetten, N.E.; Cook, R.L.; Spencer, E.C.; Salemi, M.; Prosperi, M. Employing Molecular Phylodynamic Methods to Identify and Forecast HIV Transmission Clusters in Public Health Settings: A Qualitative Study. Viruses 2020, 12, 921. https://doi.org/10.3390/v12090921

AMA Style

Rich SN, Richards VL, Mavian CN, Switzer WM, Rife Magalis B, Poschman K, Geary S, Broadway SE, Bennett SB, Blanton J, Leitner T, Boatwright JL, Stetten NE, Cook RL, Spencer EC, Salemi M, Prosperi M. Employing Molecular Phylodynamic Methods to Identify and Forecast HIV Transmission Clusters in Public Health Settings: A Qualitative Study. Viruses. 2020; 12(9):921. https://doi.org/10.3390/v12090921

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rich, Shannan N., Veronica L. Richards, Carla N. Mavian, William M. Switzer, Brittany Rife Magalis, Karalee Poschman, Shana Geary, Steven E. Broadway, Spencer B. Bennett, Jason Blanton, Thomas Leitner, J. L. Boatwright, Nichole E. Stetten, Robert L. Cook, Emma C. Spencer, Marco Salemi, and Mattia Prosperi. 2020. "Employing Molecular Phylodynamic Methods to Identify and Forecast HIV Transmission Clusters in Public Health Settings: A Qualitative Study" Viruses 12, no. 9: 921. https://doi.org/10.3390/v12090921

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Employing Molecular Phylodynamic Methods to Identify and Forecast HIV Transmission Clusters in Public Health Settings: A Qualitative Study

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