[AIDS and HIV infections in Poland in 2000].

By the end of 2000 cumulative numbers of 1,024 AIDS cases and 524 AIDS deaths were diagnosed and registered in Poland. Until 1999 (134 new AIDS cases) number of annually diagnosed AIDS cases remained relatively low, but continuous increasing of new diagnoses has been observed. Regardless of possible influence of highly active antiretroviral treatment, AIDS figures--especially registered for 2000--can be incomplete, like numbers of AIDS deaths decreasing since 1995. The biggest amount of newly discovered HIV infections (809) was reported in 1990. Next years these numbers ranged from 384 in 1993 to 637 in 1998. Majority of AIDS cases and HIV-infected persons in Poland were drug users, respectively 49.3% and 63.7%. Persons affected heterosexually and without information about the way of HIV transmission account for an increasing proportion of new infections. Quality of collected epidemiological data will depend on easy access to HIV testing and quality of the data provided: data completeness, punctual notification and consistency with obligatory definitions.