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Summary of the 63rd meeting of the Chief Medical Officers' Expert Advisory Group on AIDS (EAGA)

  • Published date:
    15 December 2000

The Expert Advisory Group on AIDS (EAGA) held its 63rd meeting on 14 November 2000. At that meeting the following items were discussed:

Report of the work of the UK Advisory Panel (UKAP) for health care workers infected with blood borne viruses

EAGA was updated on the HIV/AIDS related work of UKAP.

Vertical transmission - HIV and infant feeding

The Group received a report on the joint Department of Health and Royal College of Midwives seminar for midwives on issues concerning HIV and Infant Feeding held on 30 June 2000. This is being published for World AIDS day on 1 December 2000. EAGA agreed to re-examine at its next meeting its guidance on HIV and Infant feeding in the light of comments from the seminar and the most recent research findings.

Antenatal testing for HIV

EAGA was updated on progress made by the task force set up to consider overlapping topics on antenatal screening for all infectious diseases. Members discussed antenatal HIV quality standards being developed as part of a package of similar standards for syphilis, Hepatitis B and rubella which will be subject to professional consultation in the New Year.

Guidance for local authorities - Transmission of and testing for blood-borne viruses in children: HIV and hepatitis

EAGA commented on the first draft of guidance for Local Authorities on transmission of and testing for blood borne viruses in children: HIV and hepatitis. It is anticipated that the guidance will be ready for consultation early in the New Year.

HIV risk of transmission in the education setting

It was agreed that the EAGA secretariat would work with colleagues at DfEE to update the guidance on HIV Risk of Transmission in the education setting. EAGA would re-examine suggested modifications at its next meeting.

Lookback studies involving HIV-infected health care workers

EAGA discussed reviewing their policy on HIV lookbacks and agreed to set up a working group with UKAP to review their policy advice. The first meeting of the new group will be early in the New Year.

HIV testing outreach to the undiagnosed- including update on Sexual Health and HIV Strategy

Members were updated on progress with the Sexual Health and HIV Strategy and discussed proposals to increase the uptake of HIV testing. Work was put in train to assess the feasibility of setting HIV testing targets, and the format of these would be discussed at the next meeting of EAGA.

Good practice guidelines for prevention and control of BBVs in the renal dialysis and renal transplant units

EAGA gave their comments on the final draft of the guidelines, which would be published early in the New Year.

Notes to editor

1. Terms of Reference of the Expert Advisory Group on AIDS:

The Expert Advisory Group on AIDS (EAGA) is an advisory non-departmental public body which is non-statutory. It was established in 1985 "To provide advice on such matters relating to AIDS as may be referred to it by the Chief Medical Officers of the Health Departments of the United Kingdom". The Group meets three times a year and there have been 62 meetings to date. It currently has 13 members. Fixed terms of office are for three years and no member should serve more than two three-year terms. The Group has agreed to publish summary reports of meetings in the interests of openness and transparency.

2. Membership of EAGA:

  • Dr Pat Troop (Chair) Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health
  • Dr Andrew Freedman, Senior Lecturer in Infectious Diseases, University of Wales
  • College of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Heath Park CARDIFF CF4 4XN
  • Dr David Hawkins, Consultant Physician ,John Hunter Clinic, St Stephen's Clinic, 369 Fulham Road, LONDON SW10 9TH
  • Professor Donald Jeffries, Department of Virology, St Bartholomew's and the Royal London School of medicine and Dentistry, 48-53 St Bartholomew Close, West Smithfield, LONDON EC1A 7BE
  • Dr Margaret Johnson, Consultant Physician, Dept of Thoracic Medicine, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, LONDON NW3 2QG
  • Mrs Diana Kloss, Barrister and Senior Lecturer, University of Manchester, Faculty of Law, Oxford Road, MANCHESTER M13 9PL
  • Professor Michael Levin, Professor of Paediatrics, Department of Paediatrics, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, LONDON W2 1NY
  • Mr Roger Marwood, Consultant in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Women's Services Unit, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, LONDON SW10 9NH
  • Dr Nita Mitchell-Heggs, Consultant Occupational Physician, Staff/Student Occupational Health Department, St George's Hospital, Blackshaw Road, LONDON SW17 OQT
  • Professor Catherine Peckham, Head of Epidemiology & Biostatistics Dept of
  • Epidemiology & Public Health, Institute of Child Health, 30 Guildford Street, LONDON, WC2N 1EH
  • Professor Robert Pratt, Director, Centre for Sexual Health & HIV Studies, Wolfson
  • Institute of Health Studies at Thames Valley University, 32-38 Uxbridge Road, Ealing, LONDON W5 2SU
  • Mr Bernard Ribeiro, Consultant Surgeon, Basildon & Thurrock General Hospital NHS Trust, Basildon Hospital, Nether Mayne, Basildon, ESSEX SS16 5NL
  • Ms Carolyn Roth, Senior Lecturer in Midwifery, City University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Philpott Street LONDON E1 2EA
  • Dr Mohsen Shahmanesh, Consultant in GU Medicine, Department of Genito-Urinary
  • Medicine, Whittall Street Clinic, Whittall Street BIRMINGHAM B4 6D

3. Since the last meeting EAGA has published a Review of the Evidence on Risk of HIV Transmission associated with oral sex (accompanied by PL/CO (2000) 3 ) and, Guidance on HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis ( accompanied by PL/CO (2000) 4. Copies of these publications and other guidance published by EAGA can be obtained from: Ruth Hickson, Room 631B, Skipton House, 80 London Rd, London SE1 6LH. They are also available on the Department of Health website.

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