The Situation of HIV/M. tuberculosis Co-Infection in Europe

This article provides an overview of the situation of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and HIV/MTB co-infection in the 27 member states of the European Union (EU27), prepared in the context of the FP7 project EUCO-Net (European Network for global cooperation in the field of AIDS & TB). Information contained herein, together with similar reports compiled for the four other EUCO-Net partner regions Africa, India, Russia, and South America provided the basis for the development of the EUCO-Net AIDS/TB Roadmap, a document which was compiled to support and facilitate the development of national, regional, and global research priorities and health policies, and to help boost international cooperation aimed at combating the scourge of HIV/AIDS, TB, and their deadly combination. A comprehensive overview of the national situation in all 27 EU member states is a prerequisite for effective disease management and adequate priority setting in research and development (R&D) activities in Europe. Therefore, results presented here include demographic and epidemiological data on HIV and MTB infection, both separately and combined, as well as information concerning disease management such as diagnostics, resistance testing, treatment, and associated economic costs. Results of the primary data collection were presented at the "AIDS/TB workshop on research challenges and opportunities for future collaboration" at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, in July 2009, which brought together more than 60 scientists from Europe and all EUCO-Net target regions to discuss future joint AIDS/TB research. In this context, intercultural aspects that may hamper cross-national cooperation and research in these fields such as language barriers, different ethical regulations, or operational challenges were also taken into account. The article concludes by summarizing the jointly identified key areas to improve disease management within the EU and by recommending priority areas for future AIDS/TB research in Europe.