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Coinfection with Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Trichomonas vaginalis: a cross-sectional analysis of positivity and risk factors in remote Australian Aboriginal communities
  1. Rebecca Guy1,
  2. James Ward2,
  3. Handan Wand1,
  4. Alice Rumbold3,4,
  5. Linda Garton1,5,
  6. Belinda Hengel6,
  7. Bronwyn Silver3,
  8. Debbie Taylor-Thomson3,
  9. Janet Knox7,
  10. Skye McGregor1,
  11. Amalie Dyda1,
  12. Christopher Fairley8,9,
  13. Lisa Maher1,
  14. Basil Donovan1,10,
  15. John Kaldor1
  16. on behalf of the STRIVE Investigator Group
  1. 1The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  2. 2Baker IDI Central Australia, Alice Springs, Australia
  3. 3Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Australia
  4. 4University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
  5. 5NT Department of Health, Sexual Health & Blood Borne Virus Unit, Darwin, Australia
  6. 6Apunipima Cape York Health Council, Cairns, Australia
  7. 7Lismore sexual health service, NSW health, Sydney, Australia
  8. 8Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Carlton, Australia
  9. 9Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
  10. 10Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Sydney Hospital, Sydney, Australia
  1. Correspondence to A/Professor Rebecca Guy, The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia; Rguy{at}kirby.unsw.edu.au

Abstract

Objectives To determine the co-occurrence and epidemiological relationships of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) in a high-prevalence setting in Australia.

Methods In the context of a cluster randomised trial in 68 remote Aboriginal communities, we obtained laboratory reports on simultaneous testing for CT, NG and TV by nucleic acid amplification tests in individuals aged ≥16 years and examined relationships between age and sex and the coinfection positivity. ORs were used to determine which infections were more likely to co-occur by demographic category.

Results Of 13 480 patients (median age: 30 years; men: 37%) tested for all three infections during the study period, 33.3% of women and 21.3% of men had at least one of them, highest in patients aged 16–19 years (48.9% in women, 33.4% in men). The most frequent combination was CT/NG (2.0% of women, 4.1% of men), and 1.8% of women and 0.5% of men had all three. In all co-combinations, coinfection positivity was highest in patients aged 16–19 years. CT and NG were highly predictive of each other's presence, and TV was associated with each of the other two infections, but much more so with NG than CT, and its associations were much stronger in women than in men.

Conclusions In this remote high-prevalence area, nearly half the patients aged 16–19 years had one or more sexually transmitted infections. CT and NG were more common dual infections. TV was more strongly associated with NG coinfections than with CT. These findings confirm the need for increased simultaneous screening for CT, NG and TV, and enhanced control strategies.

Trial registration Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12610000358044.

  • INFECTIOUS DISEASES
  • SCREENING
  • EPIDEMIOLOGY (GENERAL)

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