rss
Sex Transm Infect doi:10.1136/sti.2007.025684

High rates of sexually transmissible infections in HIV positive homosexual men: data from two community-based cohorts

  1. Fengyi Jin (jjin{at}nchecr.unsw.edu.au)
  1. National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, UNSW, Australia, Australia
    1. Garrett P Prestage
    1. National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, UNSW, Australia
      1. Iryna Zablotska
      1. National Centre in HIV Social Research, UNSW, Australia
        1. Patrick Rawstorne
        1. National Centre in HIV Social Research, UNSW, Australia
          1. Susan C Kippax
          1. National Centre in HIV Social Research, UNSW, Australia
            1. Basil Donovan
            1. Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Sydney Hospital, Australia
              1. Philip H Cunningham
              1. St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia
                1. David J Templeton
                1. National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, UNSW, Australia
                  1. John M Kaldor (jkaldor{at}nchecr.unsw.edu.au)
                  1. National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, UNSW, Australia
                    1. Andrew E Grulich (agrulich{at}nchecr.unsw.edu.au)
                    1. National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, UNSW, Australia
                      • Published Online First 7 June 2007

                      Abstract

                      Objectives: Higher levels of sexual risk behaviours have been reported in HIV positive compared with in HIV negative homosexual men. In clinic-based studies, higher rates of sexually transmissible infections have also been reported. We compared rates of common sexually transmissible infections between HIV positive and HIV negative homosexual men from two on-going cohort community-based studies in Sydney, Australia.

                      Methods: Participants in the two cohorts were recruited using similar community-based strategies. They were interviewed face-to-face annually after enrolment. Comprehensive sexual health screening, including hepatitis A and B, syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia (in urethra and anus), was offered to participants in both cohorts.

                      Results: In participants in the HIV positive cohort, 75% were hepatitis A sero-positive, 56% had serological evidence of prior or current hepatitis B infection, and 24% had evidence of vaccination against hepatitis B infection. Nineteen percent of men tested positive to syphilis, and 4% had evidence of recent infections. Compared with men in the HIV negative cohort, after adjustment for age, HIV positive participants had significantly higher prevalence of prior or current hepatitis B infection, syphilis, and anal gonorrhoea.

                      Conclusion: This finding supports the need for frequent STI testing in HIV positive men to prevent morbidity and to decrease the risk of ongoing HIV transmission.

                      This Article

                      1. Abstract
                      2. PDF
                      3. All versions of this article:
                        1. sti.2007.025684v1
                        2. 83/5/397most recent

                      Responses

                      1. Submit a response
                      2. No responses published

                      Register for free content

                      The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

                      Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.