Univariable and multivariable generalised estimating equation analyses of factors associated with the detection rate of oropharyngeal gonorrhoea
| Number of oropharyngeal swabs tested positive for gonorrhoea (%) | Number of oropharyngeal swabs tested negative for gonorrhoea (%) | ORs (95% CI) | P value | Adjusted ORs (95% CI)* | P value | |
| Patients’ characteristics | ||||||
| Age (years) | ||||||
| ≤31 | 143 (10.4) | 1233 (89.6) | 1.9 (1.4 to 2.4) | <0.001 | 1.6 (1.2 to 2.2) | 0.001 |
| >31 | 72 (5.9) | 1157 (94.1) | 1 | Ref | 1 | Ref |
| Condom use in last 3 months | ||||||
| Always | 50 (8.5) | 540 (91.5) | 1 | Ref | – | – |
| Not always | 165 (8.2) | 1850 (91.8) | 1.0 (0.7 to 1.3) | 0.808 | ||
| No. of partners in last 3 months | ||||||
| ≤2 | 105 (7.8) | 1244 (92.2) | 1 | Ref | – | – |
| >2 | 110 (8.8) | 1146 (91.2) | 1.1 (0.9 to 1.4) | 0.230 | ||
| Self-reported drug use | ||||||
| Never | 132 (7.1) | 1718 (92.9) | 1 | Ref | 1 | Ref |
| Ever | 83 (11.0) | 672 (89.0) | 1.6 (1.1 to 2.3) | 0.001 | 1.4 (1.0 to 2.0) | 0.074 |
| HIV status | ||||||
| Negative | 193 (8.1) | 2203 (91.9) | 1 | Ref | – | – |
| Positive | 22 (10.5) | 187 (89.5) | 1.3 (0.8 to 2.2) | 0.235 | ||
| Contact of gonorrhoea | ||||||
| No | 190 (7.6) | 2305 (92.4) | 1 | Ref | 1 | Ref |
| Yes | 25 (22.7) | 85 (77.3) | 3.6 (2.3 to 5.6) | <0.001 | 2.2 (1.5 to 3.2) | <0.001 |
| Anorectal gonorrhoea† | ||||||
| Negative | 105 (5.0) | 2003 (95.0) | 1 | Ref | 1 | Ref |
| Positive | 90 (37.0) | 153 (63.0) | 11.2 (8.3 to 15.2) | <0.001 | 9.6 (7.1 to 13.0) | <0.001 |
| Urethral chlamydia‡ | ||||||
| Negative | 183 (7.7) | 2200 (92.3) | 1 | Ref | 1 | |
| Positive | 20 (14.5) | 118 (85.5) | 2.0 (1.3 to 3.2) | 0.002 | 1.5 (0.9 to 2.6) | 0.129 |
| Clinicians’ sampling technique | ||||||
| Frequency of swabbing one tonsil only | – | – | 1.0 (1.0 to 1.0) | 0.653 | 1.0 (0.9 to 1.1) | 0.982 |
| Frequency of swabbing both tonsils only | – | – | 1.0 (1.0 to 1.0) | 0.939 | 1.0 (1.0 to 1.0) | 0.160 |
| Frequency of swabbing oropharynx only | – | – | 1.0 (1.0 to 1.0) | 0.236 | 1.0 (1.0 to 1.0) | 0.046 |
| Frequency of swabbing soft palate only | – | – | 1.0 (1.0 to 1.0) | 0.933 | 1.0 (1.0 to 1.0) | 0.313 |
| Frequency of swabbing both tonsils together with oropharynx | – | – | 1.0 (1.0 to 1.0) | 0.891 | 1.0 (1.0 to 1.0) | 0.176 |
| Frequency of gag reflex | – | – | 1.0 (1.0 to 1.0) | 0.482 | 1.0 (1.0 to 1.0) | 0.291 |
*Adjusted for patients' characteristics and all other sampling techniques.
†254 anorectal gonorrhoea tests were not performed.
‡84 urethral chlamydia tests were not performed.