Trends in the European HIV/AIDS epidemic: a perspective from Italy

The HIV/AIDS epidemic represents one of the major public-health challenges in present days. Despite the relevant improvement in the prognosis of HIV disease following the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), numerous new challenges are progressively emerging as patient characteristics evolve. In this article, we give an insight into more actual topics in the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Italy and Europe, including recent epidemiological trends, emerging drug resistance and non-B-subtype circulation, the lights and shadows of HAART and the potential of HARRT to reduce sexual transmission of HIV.