THE PATTERN OF DIAGNOSED HIV-INFECTION IN AUSTRALIA, 1984-1992

Objective: To describe the pattern of newly diagnosed HIV infection in Australia, between 1984 and 1992. Methods: State and Territory health authorities reported cases of newly diagnosed HIV infection to the na tional HIV surveillance centre. Information sought on each case includ ed the State or Territory of diagnosis, the case identifying number, t he sex, date of birth and postcode of residence of the person with new ly diagnosed HIV infection, the source of exposure to HIV and the date of specimen collection for the diagnosis of infection. Results: By th e end of December 1992, a total of 16 765 cases of newly diagnosed HIV infection had been reported in Australia. The annual number of cases declined between 1985 and 1992. Most diagnoses were among males, and e xposure to HIV was attributed to male homosexual contact for more than 80% of cases for which information on exposure to HIV was available. Cases of HIV infection attributed to heterosexual contact represented an increasing proportion of the annual number of diagnoses over the pe riod 1985-1992, among both men and women. Conclusion: National surveil lance for newly diagnosed HIV infection has complemented national surv eillance for diagnoses of AIDS as a key mechanism for monitoring the c ourse of the HIV epidemic in Australia. The pattern of newly diagnosed HIV infection was similar to the pattern of AIDS diagnoses, with the overwhelming majority of diagnoses of infection being in adult males w hose exposure to HIV was attributed to homosexual contact. Limitations of HIV surveillance include the lack of information on HIV testing pa tterns, incomplete information on HIV exposure histories and duplicati on of reported diagnoses.