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Liu Z, Zhang X, Xiong S, Huang S, Ding X, Xu M, Yao J, Liu S, Zhao F. Endothelial dysfunction of syphilis: Pathogenesis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2024; 38:1478-1490. [PMID: 38376088 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.19899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Treponema pallidum is the causative factor of syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease (STD) characterized by perivascular infiltration of inflammatory cells, vascular leakage, swelling and proliferation of endothelial cells (ECs). The endothelium lining blood and lymphatic vessels is a key barrier separating body fluids from host tissues and is a major target of T. pallidum. In this review, we focus on how T. pallidum establish intimate interactions with ECs, triggering endothelial dysfunction such as endothelial inflammation, abnormal repairment and damage of ECs. In addition, we summarize that migration and invasion of T. pallidum across vascular ECs may occur through two pathways. These two mechanisms of transendothelial migration are paracellular and cholesterol-dependent, respectively. Herein, clarifying the relationship between T. pallidum and endothelial dysfunction is of great significance to provide novel strategies for diagnosis and prevention of syphilis, and has a great potential prospect of clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoping Liu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Xiaohong Zhang
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Shun Xiong
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Shaobin Huang
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Xuan Ding
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Man Xu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Jiangchen Yao
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Shuangquan Liu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Feijun Zhao
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
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Gani AH, Saleh NA, Selvam SB, Azwa I. Prevalence, risk factors and treatment outcomes of syphilis among people living with human immunodeficiency virus at primary care clinics in Malaysia: A retrospective study. MALAYSIAN FAMILY PHYSICIAN : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS OF MALAYSIA 2024; 19:13. [PMID: 38496768 PMCID: PMC10944645 DOI: 10.51866/oa.471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection is a common clinical problem with a significant rising trend worldwide. In Malaysia, the burden of care is shared between hospitals and primary care clinics. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of syphilis among people living with HIV (PLHIV) at primary care clinics in Malaysia and assess its association with sociodemographic characteristics, risk factors and treatment outcomes. Methods This retrospective study included 750 PLHIV aged ≥18 years who attended primary care clinics in three different locations in Malaysia from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2019. Data were obtained from the patients' clinical notes using a structured questionnaire evaluating the sociodemographic characteristics, history of sexual and lifestyle behaviours, diagnosis and management. Results The patients' age ranged from 18 to 78 years (mean=34.7, standard deviation=10.2). The prevalence of syphilis among the PLHIV at the three primary care clinics was 33.8% (n=254). Syphilis was significantly associated with gender (P=0.038) as well as sexual activity (P<0.001), substance use (P=0.038), history of chemsex (P=0.001) and history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (P<0.001) within the past 12 months. The majority of the PLHIV with syphilis received treatment at the primary care clinics (n=248, 97.3%), and up to 96.1% (n=245) had completed such treatment. Conclusion Syphilis is prevalent among PLHIV at primary care clinics, and most patients receive standard treatment. Therefore, primary care doctors must enhance their knowledge to effectively manage STIs, especially syphilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Hafiz Gani
- MBBS, MFamMed, MRCGP, MSc, CMID, Klinik Kesihatan Mahmoodiah, Jalan Mahmoodiah, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.
| | - Narul Aida Saleh
- MBBS, MFamMed, Klinik Kesihatan Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Sheela Bai Selvam
- MBBS, MFamMed, Klinik Kesihatan Cheras, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Iskandar Azwa
- MBChB, FRCP, Dip GUM, Dip HIV, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Ishihara R, Buscho S, Yu HJ, Gupta PK. Assessment of Visual Acuity Outcomes in Ocular Syphilis Treated With Adjunctive Topical or Oral Steroids. Cureus 2023; 15:e41395. [PMID: 37546086 PMCID: PMC10401898 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.41395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE There is no consensus surrounding adjunctive steroid use in the treatment of ocular syphilis. We evaluated clinical outcomes of patients with ocular syphilis who were treated with penicillin plus either topical or oral steroids. METHODS Nine male patients aged 26 to 72 years with a diagnosis of ocular syphilis were retrospectively identified (18 eyes). All patients were treated with penicillin and adjunctive topical or oral steroids. Visual acuity reported as the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) and slit lamp findings were documented at presentation, short-term follow-up (<7 days after initiating therapy), and long-term follow-up (day 7+). Visual acuity outcomes were compared between eyes treated with topical versus oral steroids as well as eyes treated simultaneously with adjunctive steroids and penicillin versus patients treated with steroids after penicillin. RESULTS At short-term follow-up, the mean logMAR (SD, Snellen fraction) visual acuity for eyes treated with topical steroids 0.93 (0.53, 20/170) was significantly lower than that for the oral steroid group 0.23 (0.09, 20/110; p=0.0075). Similarly, at long-term follow-up, the topical steroid group had a significantly lower visual acuity of 0.75 (20/112) compared to a visual acuity of 0.07 (20/25) for the oral steroid group (p=0.0022). Moreover, the oral steroid group displayed significant improvement in visual acuity at long-term follow-up compared to baseline while the topical steroid group did not demonstrate the same effect (p=0.0406 and p=0.5945, respectively). Initiation of steroid treatment simultaneously with penicillin did not result in better visual acuity than delayed steroid treatment (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Steroids are an effective adjunctive treatment for patients with ocular syphilis. Oral steroids may be superior to topical steroids for improving visual function, especially in patients with a severe inflammatory component. Patients treated with oral or topical steroids and penicillin simultaneously did not demonstrate better visual acuity outcomes than patients treated with oral or topical steroids after penicillin was initiated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhys Ishihara
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, USA
| | - Seth Buscho
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, USA
| | - Hannah J Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, USA
| | - Praveena K Gupta
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, USA
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Bistas K, Mirza M. Neurosyphilis With Concomitant Respiratory Failure: A Case Study and Treatment Considerations. Cureus 2023; 15:e41363. [PMID: 37546114 PMCID: PMC10399702 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.41363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
This case report presents the case of a 58-year-old Caucasian male with hypercapnic respiratory failure (type 2 respiratory failure) and septic shock attributed to pneumonia. He also had multiorgan dysfunction and was subsequently diagnosed with neurosyphilis in the setting of underlying HIV. The patient initially presented with worsening shortness of breath and bilateral lower extremity edema. Further evaluation revealed HIV positivity with immunosuppression. The presence of neurologic symptoms on physical examination prompted investigation for an alternative etiology, ultimately leading to the diagnosis of neurosyphilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karlyle Bistas
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Wayne State University Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, USA
| | - Maheen Mirza
- School of Medicine, Medical University of the Americas, Charlestown, KNA
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Vergara-Ortega DN, Tapia-Maltos A, Herrera-Ortíz A, García-Cisneros S, Olamendi-Portugal M, Sánchez-Alemán MÁ. High Prevalence of Syphilis and Syphilis/HIV Coinfection among Men Who Have Sex with Men Who Attend Meeting Places in Mexico. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12030356. [PMID: 36986278 PMCID: PMC10055729 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12030356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by syphilis, HIV, and syphilis/HIV coinfection. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) prevents HIV transmission but does not impede the spread or acquisition of syphilis. Information about syphilis/HIV coinfection among MSM is scarce. We aimed to determine the prevalence of syphilis/HIV coinfection in a national sample of MSM who attend meeting places (such as movies, clubs, gay bars, saunas, shopping malls, and others referred to by the same MSM participants of the study) in Mexico to evaluate factors associated with syphilis, and to compare the prevalence rates of syphilis between the current survey and DGE data. We performed a laboratory diagnosis to determine the rates of syphilis and HIV among the included MSM. The national and regional prevalence of syphilis was calculated. HIV and coinfection prevalence were determined only for the survey. All prevalence rates included 95%CIs. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were performed. The national prevalence rates of syphilis, HIV, and coinfection were 15.2%, 10.2%, and 5.7%, respectively. The region with the highest prevalence rate was Mexico City (39.4%). The center region, minimal “goods” (i.e., a minimal number of material possessions such as a car or dryer, etc., which served as a proxy for low economic income level), use of “inhalant drugs”, “HIV infection”, “sexual intercourse” only with men, “rewarded sex”, and “youngest age at first sexual encounter or debut” were risk factors for syphilis. In general, regional prevalence of syphilis was higher in the survey (2013) and DGE data from 2019 than in the DGE data from 2013. Similar to other countries, Mexico needs to assess elements around not only syphilis and HIV infections but also syphilis/HIV coinfection, and preventive measures focusing on MSM are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayana Nicté Vergara-Ortega
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca 62100, Mexico
| | - Andrés Tapia-Maltos
- Plan de Estudios Combinados en Medicina (PECEM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Antonia Herrera-Ortíz
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca 62100, Mexico
| | - Santa García-Cisneros
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca 62100, Mexico
| | - María Olamendi-Portugal
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca 62100, Mexico
| | - Miguel Ángel Sánchez-Alemán
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca 62100, Mexico
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +52-777-329-3000 (ext. 2406)
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Wiginton JM, Eaton LA, Kalinowski J, Watson RJ, Kalichman SC. Lifetime prevalence of syphilis infection among predominantly Black sexual and gender minorities living with HIV in Atlanta, Georgia: a cross-sectional analysis. ETHNICITY & HEALTH 2023; 28:159-169. [PMID: 34818951 PMCID: PMC9126996 DOI: 10.1080/13557858.2021.2007225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Syphilis infection disproportionately impacts Black sexual and gender minorities (SGM) in the United States. The extent of this impact among those living with HIV has been minimally examined. This study sought to examine lifetime syphilis prevalence and associated factors in a community sample of predominantly Black SGM living with HIV in the Southeastern US. DESIGN Participants (N = 174) enrolled in a stigma-mitigation trial for people living with HIV in Atlanta, Georgia, completed a sub-study involving testing for Treponema pallidum antibodies, indicative of lifetime syphilis infection. We performed chi-square and Fisher's exact tests to assess sociodemographic and healthcare differences by presence/absence of lifetime syphilis infection. RESULTS Most participants identified as non-Hispanic Black (n = 142/174; 81.6%) and cisgender male (n = 146/174; 83.9%). More than two thirds (n = 120/174) identified as gay/homosexual. We documented a 55.7% (n = 97/174) lifetime prevalence of syphilis infection and observed differences by sexual identity, with 77.3% (n = 75/97) of those screening positive reporting gay/homosexual identity relative to 58.4% (n = 45/77) of those screening negative (chi-square[1] = 7.8, p < 0.010). CONCLUSION Findings underscore how syphilis prevention efforts have missed the most marginalized, warranting a renewed, comprehensive strategy for improving the sexual health of Black SGM. Embedding targeted, respectful community engagement, expanded testing access, and healthcare provider training into broader sexual health and psychosocial wellness efforts is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Mark Wiginton
- Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lisa A. Eaton
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Jolaade Kalinowski
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Ryan J. Watson
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Seth C. Kalichman
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
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7
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Bosetti D, Mugglin C, Calmy A, Cavassini M, Stöckle M, Braun D, Notter J, Haerry D, Hampel B, Kovari H, Bernasconi E, Wandeler G, Rauch A, Aebi-Popp K, Anagnostopoulos A, Battegay M, Bernasconi E, Braun DL, Bucher HC, Calmy A, Cavassini M, Ciuffi A, Dollenmaier G, Egger M, Elzi L, Fehr J, Fellay J, Furrer H, Fux CA, Günthard HF, Hachfeld A, Haerry D, Hasse B, Hirsch HH, Hoffmann M, Hösli I, Huber M, Kahlert CR, Kaiser L, Keiser O, Klimkait T, Kouyos RD, Kovari H, Kusejko K, Martinetti G, Martinez de Tejada B, Marzolini C, Metzner KJ, Müller N, Nemeth J, Nicca D, Paioni P, Pantaleo G, Perreau M, Rauch A, Schmid P, Speck R, Stöckle M, Tarr P, Trkola A, Wandeler G, Yerly S. Risk Factors and Incidence of Sexually Transmitted Infections in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study. Open Forum Infect Dis 2022; 9:ofac592. [PMID: 36504700 PMCID: PMC9728517 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofac592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common among people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH), but there are limited data about risk factors and incidence of STIs in large, representative cohort studies. Methods We assessed incidence and risk factors of STIs reported by treating physicians within the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS). Sexually transmitted infections and demographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics were prospectively collected at 6-month follow-up visits between October 2017 and November 2019. We used multilevel Poisson regression to assess incidence rate ratios of different STIs. Results Among 10 140 study participants, a total of 1634 STIs in 1029 SHCS participants were reported over 17 766 person-years of follow up (PYFUP). The overall incidence of any reported STI was 91.9 per 1000 PYFU (95% confidence interval [CI], 85.8 -98.5). Among the 1634 STI episodes, there were 573 (35.1%) incident cases of syphilis, 497 gonorrhea (30.4%), and 418 chlamydia (25.6%). Men who have sex with men (MSM) younger than 50 years represented 21% of the study population, but accounted for 61% of reported STIs. Male sex (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR], 2.03; 95% CI, 1.36-3.02), MSM (aIRR, 3.62; 95% CI, 2.88-4.55), age group 18-34 years (aIRR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.51-2.10), history of sexual relationships with occasional partners (aIRR, 6.87; 95% CI, 5.40-8.73), and reporting injecting drug use (aIRR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.91-3.23) were associated with a higher risk of incident STIs. Conclusions Sexually transmitted infections were frequent among PWH and varied considerably between age and risk groups. Screening programs and recommendations for STI testing need to be adapted according to risk factors and demographic characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Catrina Mugglin
- Correspondence: Catrina Mugglin, MSc, MD, PhD, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Freiburgstrasse, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland ()
| | - Alexandra Calmy
- HIV/AIDS Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Cavassini
- University Hospital of Lausanne, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marcel Stöckle
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Braun
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Julia Notter
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | | | - Benjamin Hampel
- Department of Public and Global Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland,Checkpoint Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Helen Kovari
- Zentrum für Infektionskrankheiten, Klinik im Park, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Enos Bernasconi
- Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, University of Geneva, and University of Southern Switzerland, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Gilles Wandeler
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Geneva, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Andri Rauch
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Geneva, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Zhao P, Yang Z, Zhang Y, Chen J, Fu X, Tang W, Zhou J. Prevalence of syphilis and risk factors among HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Guangdong province. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1025221. [PMID: 36438237 PMCID: PMC9682027 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1025221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) tend to have high syphilis incidence. Our objective is to evaluate the prevalence of syphilis and determine the risk factors of syphilis among HIV-positive MSM. Methods A cross-sectional study with convenience sampling was performed among HIV-positive MSM in six cities of Guangdong Province from June 2020 to August 2021. Participants completed a survey including social-demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors and self-reported syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, human papillomavirus statuses after HIV diagnosis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with syphilis and sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Results Among 944 HIV-positive MSM, 141 (14.9, 95% CI: 12.7-17.2%) men had syphilis and 220 (23.3, 95% CI: 20.6-26.0%) men had STD. Multivariate analysis indicated that MSM who met male sexual partners mainly through traditional meeting places (spa or bath house, sauna, foot or body massage parlor) in the last 6 months [adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) = 2.91, 95% CI: 1.09-7.79], and who were diagnosed with herps after the HIV diagnosis (aOR = 3.79, 95% CI: 1.16-12.39) were more likely to have syphilis. In addition, MSM who met male sexual partners mainly through traditional meeting places in the last 6 month (aOR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.01-6.42), and who had more than one male sexual partner in the last 6 months (aOR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.17-3.02) were more likely to have STD. Conclusions The prevalence of syphilis and other STDs is relatively high among HIV-positive MSM in southern China. Routine syphilis screening as a part of HIV monitoring among HIV-positive MSM will have important epidemiological significance for the management of infected patients, and can help reduce the spread of syphilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peizhen Zhao
- Department of Biostatistics, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ziying Yang
- Department of Biostatistics, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ye Zhang
- Kirby Institute, New South Wales University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jinmei Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuezhen Fu
- International Department of Nanjing No.13 Middle School, Nanjing, China
| | - Weiming Tang
- Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,University of North Carolina Project-China, Guangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Weiming Tang
| | - Jiyuan Zhou
- Department of Biostatistics, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Ministry of Education, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangzhou, China,Jiyuan Zhou
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9
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Pattanasin S, Griensven FV, Mock PA, Sukwicha W, Kongpechsatit O, Krasan C, O'Connor S, Hickey AC, Ungsedhapand C, Woodring JV, Connor S, Chitwarakorn A, Dunne EF. HIV and syphilis prevalence among transgender women and men who have sex with men, Silom Community Clinic, Bangkok, Thailand, 2017-2019. AIDS Care 2022; 34:1305-1313. [PMID: 34424784 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2021.1967854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
We assessed HIV and syphilis infection among MSM and TGW attending Silom Community Clinic from 2017 to 2019. Walk-in and referral clients completed a registration application including a question on gender identity. We compared the prevalence of HIV, syphilis, and HIV and syphilis coinfection among TGW and MSM. In a total of 1050 clients, 276 (26.3%) were TGW and 774 (74.7%) were MSM. Among TGW clients, HIV prevalence was 29.8%, syphilis prevalence was 38.4%, and coinfection prevalence was 18.5%. Comparing prevalence among TGW to MSM, the adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) for HIV was 1.8 (95% CI:1.4-2.3), for syphilis was 1.2 (95% CI:1.0-1.4), and for HIV and syphilis coinfection was 2.1 (95% CI:1.4-2.9). The prevalence of syphilis was higher than HIV among TGW, with a PR of 1.3 (95% CI:1.1-1.6), and among MSM, with a PR of 1.4 (95% CI:1.2-1.7). TGW age 15-21 years had an HIV prevalence of 16.9% and syphilis prevalence of 30.8%. After adjusting for age, referral, and sexual behaviors, TGW remain significantly associated with HIV and syphilis prevalence. There is a substantial burden of HIV and HIV/syphilis co-infection among TGW. HIV/STI prevention are needed for TGW, including linkage to HIV care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarika Pattanasin
- Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Thailand Ministry of Public Health - U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Collaboration, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Frits van Griensven
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,The Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Philip A Mock
- Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Thailand Ministry of Public Health - U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Collaboration, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Wichuda Sukwicha
- Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Thailand Ministry of Public Health - U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Collaboration, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Oranuch Kongpechsatit
- Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Thailand Ministry of Public Health - U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Collaboration, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Chidanan Krasan
- Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Thailand Ministry of Public Health - U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Collaboration, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Siobhan O'Connor
- Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Andrew C Hickey
- Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Thailand Ministry of Public Health - U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Collaboration, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Chaiwat Ungsedhapand
- Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Thailand Ministry of Public Health - U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Collaboration, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Joseph V Woodring
- Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Thailand Ministry of Public Health - U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Collaboration, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Suzi Connor
- Office of the Chief Information Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anupong Chitwarakorn
- Department of Disease Control, Thai Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Eileen F Dunne
- Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Thailand Ministry of Public Health - U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Collaboration, Nonthaburi, Thailand
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10
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Zheng Y, Yu Q, Lin Y, Zhou Y, Lan L, Yang S, Wu J. Global burden and trends of sexually transmitted infections from 1990 to 2019: an observational trend study. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2022; 22:541-551. [PMID: 34942091 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(21)00448-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major public health issue worldwide, but there is a paucity of literature on their burden and trends globally. We aimed to assess the global disease burden and trends of STIs from 1990 to 2019. METHODS In this observational trend study, we collected data on incident cases, age-standardised incidence rate, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and calculated age-standardised DALY rates, for five STIs (syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomonas, and genital herpes) between 1990 and 2019, by sex, geographical region, and cause using data exclusively from the Global Burden of Disease study 2019. The estimated annual percentage changes in the age-standardised incidence rate and age-standardised DALY rate were calculated to quantify the changing trend. FINDINGS Globally, the age-standardised incidence rate of STIs showed a decreasing trend with an estimated annual percentage change of -0·04 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] -0·08 to 0·00) from 1990 to 2019, reaching 9535·71 per 100 000 person-years (8169·73 to 11 054·76) in 2019. The age-standardised DALY rate showed a decreasing trend with an estimated annual percentage change of -0·92 (-1·01 to -0·84) and reached 22·74 per 100 000 person-years (14·37 to 37·11) in 2019. The sub-Saharan African region had the highest age-standardised incidence rate (19 973·12 per 100 000 person-years, 17 382·69 to 23 001·57) and age-standardised DALY rate (389·32 per 100 000 person-years, 154·27 to 769·74). Adolescents had the highest incidence rate (18 377·82 per 100 000 person-years, 14 040·38 to 23 443·31) and showed stable total STI trends, except for an upward trend of syphilis between 2010 (347·65 per 100 000 person-years, 203·58 to 590·69) and 2019 (423·16 per 100 000 person-years, 235·70 to 659·01). Male individuals had a higher age-standardised incidence rate (10 471·63 per 100 000 person-years, 8892·20 to 12 176·10) than female individuals (8602·40 per 100 000 person-years, 7358·00 to 10001·18), whereas female individuals had a higher age-standardised DALY rate (33·31 per 100 000 person-years, 21·05 to 55·25) than male individuals (12·11 per 100 000 person-years, 7·63 to 18·93). INTERPRETATION Although most countries showed a decrease in age-standardised rates of incidence and DALYs for STIs, the absolute incident cases and DALYs increased from 1990 to 2019. Therefore, STIs still represent a global public health challenge, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, which warrants more attention and health prevention service. FUNDING Mega-Project of National Science and Technology for the 13th Five-Year Plan of China and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Department of General Practice, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qi Yu
- Department of Cardiology and Endodontics, The Stomatology Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yushi Lin
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuqing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lei Lan
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shigui Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jie Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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11
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Stevens GA, Fajardo FJ. LGBTQ+ health research guides at North American health sciences libraries: a survey and content analysis. J Med Libr Assoc 2021; 109:406-413. [PMID: 34629969 PMCID: PMC8485968 DOI: 10.5195/jmla.2021.1189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Current literature recommends online research guides as an easy and effective tool to promote LGBTQ+ health information to both health care providers and the public. This cross-sectional study was designed to determine how extensive LGBTQ+ health guides are among hospital and academic libraries and which features are most prevalent. METHODS In order to locate LGBTQ+ health guides for content analysis, we searched for guides on the websites of libraries belonging to the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) and the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL). Additionally, we searched the Springshare interface for LibGuides with the word "health" and either "LGBT" or "transgender." Content analysis was performed to identify major characteristics of the located guides, including target audience and the information type provided. RESULTS LGBTQ+ research guides were identified for 74 libraries. Of these, 5 were hospital libraries, and the rest were academic libraries. Of 158 AAHSL member libraries, 48 (30.4%) had LGBTQ+ guides on their websites. Nearly all guides (95.9%) provided general LGBTQ+ health information, and a large majority (87.8%) also had information resources for transgender health. Smaller percentages of guides contained information on HIV/AIDS (48.6%) and women's health (16.2%). CONCLUSIONS Even though literature recommends creating LGBTQ+ health guides, most health sciences libraries are missing an opportunity by not developing and maintaining these guides. Further research may be needed to determine the usage and usefulness of existing guides and to better identify barriers preventing libraries from creating guides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregg A Stevens
- , Senior Assistant Librarian/Health Sciences Librarian, Liaison to the School of Nursing, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Francisco J Fajardo
- , Information & Instruction Services Librarian, Medical Library, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL
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12
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MacKinnon KR, Grewal R, Tan DH, Rousseau R, Maxwell J, Walmsley S, MacPherson PA, Rachlis A, Andany N, Mishra S, Allen VG, Burchell AN. Patient perspectives on the implementation of routinised syphilis screening with HIV viral load testing: Qualitative process evaluation of the Enhanced Syphilis Screening Among HIV-positive Men trial. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:625. [PMID: 34193138 PMCID: PMC8243864 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06602-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Syphilis infections have been on the rise, affecting men living with HIV in urban centres disproportionately. Since individuals in HIV care undergo routine blood testing, HIV clinics provide practical opportunities to conduct regular and frequent syphilis testing. Following the implementation of a routine syphilis testing intervention in HIV outpatient clinics, we conducted a qualitative process evaluation of patient experiences to measure patient acceptability, barriers to implementation, and facilitators of successful uptake. METHODS Upon completion of the trial, which took place at four HIV outpatient clinics in Toronto and Ottawa, Canada, we recruited male patients attending these clinics from November 2017 to April 2018. Interviews were conducted on-site and were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. All participants provided written informed consent. Interview data were analyzed using grounded theory, assessing qualitative modulators of effective uptake of routinised syphilis testing. RESULTS A total of 21 male patients were interviewed. Overall, interviewees found the clinical intervention acceptable, endorsing the practice of routinising syphilis testing alongside regular viral load bloodwork. Some men preferred, based on their self-assessment of syphilis risk, to opt out of testing; we considered this as a potential barrier to uptake of population-wide routinised syphilis testing. Interviewees also identified multiple facilitators of successful uptake, including the de-stigmatising of STI testing as a consequence of the universal nature of routinised testing. Participants recommended a routinised syphilis screening intervention to give patients peace of mind surrounding their sexual health. Participants identified HIV care clinics as comfortable and efficient locations to offer testing. CONCLUSIONS Overall, most men were in support of implementing routinised syphilis testing as part of standard HIV care. From the patient perspective, HIV care clinics are convenient places to be tested for syphilis, and the routine approach was viewed to have a de-stigmatisng effect on syphilis testing. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02019043; registered December 23, 2013.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinnon R MacKinnon
- School of Social Work, York University, 4700 Keele Street, M3J 1P3, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ramandip Grewal
- MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, 30 Bond Street, M5B 1W8, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Darrell Hs Tan
- MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, 30 Bond Street, M5B 1W8, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Rodney Rousseau
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Cir, M5S 1A8, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - John Maxwell
- AIDS Committee of Toronto, 543 Yonge Street, 4th floor, M4Y 1Y5, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sharon Walmsley
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth Street, M5G 2C4, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paul A MacPherson
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Ottawa Hospital, 501 Smyth Road, L1H 8L6, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Anita Rachlis
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Avenue, M4N 3M5, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nisha Andany
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Avenue, M4N 3M5, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sharmistha Mishra
- MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, 30 Bond Street, M5B 1W8, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Vanessa G Allen
- Public Health Ontario Laboratories, Public Health Ontario, 661 University Avenue, M5G 1M1, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ann N Burchell
- MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, 30 Bond Street, M5B 1W8, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, 30 Bond Street, M5B 1W8, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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13
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Rana J, Guiang CB, Lisk R, Shahin R, Brunetta J, Mitterni L, Grewal R, Tan DHS, Gilbert M, Yeung A, Kwag M, Logie CH, Bacon J, Gesink D, Burchell AN. Survey of Health Care Providers' Practices and Opinions Regarding Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men. Sex Transm Dis 2021; 48:94-102. [PMID: 33003183 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000001287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rates of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to rise among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) globally. Testing and treatment can prevent morbidity and transmission. However, testing rates remain suboptimal. METHODS In 2018, we conducted an online cross-sectional survey to explore STI testing ordering practices, 14 potential barriers for testing and 11 possible ways to improve testing from the perspective of health care providers in Toronto, Ontario. An estimated 172 providers were invited from primary care and sexual health clinic settings. Providers were eligible to complete the survey if they provided care for ≥1 GBMSM per week and were involved in the decision-making process in providing STI tests. We used descriptive statistics to summarize survey responses. RESULTS Ninety-five providers (55% response rate) participated, of whom 68% worked in primary care and 32% in sexual health settings. Most (66%) saw ≤10 GBMSM clients per week. In primary care (65%) and sexual health (40%) clinic settings, insufficient consultation time was the most common barrier to STI testing. In primary care, other common barriers included difficulty introducing testing during unrelated consultations (53%), forgetting (47%), and patients being sexually inactive (31%) or declining testing (27%). The following were most likely to improve testing: express/fast-track testing services (89%), provider alerts when patients are due for testing (87%), patient-collected specimens (84%), nurse-led STI testing (79%), and standing orders (79%). CONCLUSIONS Promising interventions to improve bacterial STI testing included initiatives that simplify and expedite testing and expand testing delivery to other health care professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Anna Yeung
- From the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto
| | | | | | | | - Dionne Gesink
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
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14
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Leenen J, Hoebe CJPA, Ackens RP, Posthouwer D, van Loo IHM, Wolffs PFG, Dukers-Muijrers NHTM. Pilot implementation of a home-care programme with chlamydia, gonorrhoea, hepatitis B, and syphilis self-sampling in HIV-positive men who have sex with men. BMC Infect Dis 2020; 20:925. [PMID: 33276727 PMCID: PMC7716461 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05658-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Not all men who have sex with men (MSM) at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection currently receive sexual healthcare. To increase the coverage of high-quality HIV/STI care for MSM, we developed a home-care programme, as extended STI clinic care. This programme included home sampling for testing, combined with treatment and sexual health counselling. Here, we pilot implemented the programme in a hospital setting (HIV-positive MSM) to determine the factors for the successful implementation of STI home sampling strategies. Methods Healthcare providers from the HIV hospital treatment centre (Maastricht) were invited to offer free STI sampling kits (syphilis, hepatitis B, [extra]genital chlamydia and gonorrhoea laboratory testing) to their HIV-positive MSM patients (March to May 2018). To evaluate implementation of the program, quantitative and qualitative data were collected to assess adoption (HIV care providers offered sampling kits to MSM), participation (MSM accepted the sampling kits) and sampling-kit return, STI diagnoses, and implementation experiences. Results Adoption was 85.3% (110/129), participation was 58.2% (64/110), and sampling-kit return was 43.8% (28/64). Of the tested MSM, 64.3% (18/28) did not recently (< 3 months) undergo a STI test; during the programme, 17.9% (5/28) were diagnosed with an STI. Of tested MSM, 64.3% (18/28) was vaccinated against hepatitis B. MSM reported that the sampling kits were easily and conveniently used. Care providers (hospital and STI clinic) considered the programme acceptable and feasible, with some logistical challenges. All (100%) self-taken chlamydia and gonorrhoea samples were adequate for testing, and 82.1% (23/28) of MSM provided sufficient self-taken blood samples for syphilis screening. However, full syphilis diagnostic work-up required for MSM with a history of syphilis (18/28) was not possible in 44.4% (8/18) of MSM because of insufficient blood sampled. Conclusion The home sampling programme increased STI test uptake and was acceptable and feasible for MSM and their care providers. Return of sampling kits should be further improved. The home-care programme is a promising extension of regular STI care to deliver comprehensive STI care to the home setting for MSM. Yet, in an HIV-positive population, syphilis diagnosis may be challenging when using self-taken blood samples. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-020-05658-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Leenen
- Department of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, South Limburg Public Health Service (GGD Zuid Limburg), Heerlen, the Netherlands.,Department of Medical Microbiology, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - C J P A Hoebe
- Department of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, South Limburg Public Health Service (GGD Zuid Limburg), Heerlen, the Netherlands.,Department of Medical Microbiology, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Social Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - R P Ackens
- Department of Integrated Care, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - D Posthouwer
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - I H M van Loo
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - P F G Wolffs
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - N H T M Dukers-Muijrers
- Department of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, South Limburg Public Health Service (GGD Zuid Limburg), Heerlen, the Netherlands. .,Department of Health Promotion, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), Maastricht, the Netherlands.
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15
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Reynolds GL, Fisher DG, Erlyana E, Otterloo LV. Rectal douching in a community sample of men and women. Int J STD AIDS 2020; 31:1082-1092. [PMID: 32914687 DOI: 10.1177/0956462419837483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Rectal douching (RD) may be a vector for sexually transmitted infection (STI) acquisition. The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between RD, and the prevalence of various STIs and sexual behaviors in a sample of women and men in Long Beach, California. Five hundred and forty-seven men (mean age 42.8 years) and 530 women (mean age 37 years) recruited from a community-based setting between April 2010 and August 2014 completed the Risk Behavior Assessment and a questionnaire eliciting information on use of lubricants and enemas for vaginal intercourse (VI) and anal intercourse (AI). Participants were screened for high-risk behaviors for human immunodeficiency virus infection including injection drug use. Bivariate analyses were conducted separately for women and men. Based on the empirical results, separate logistic regression models for women and men were constructed. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess model fit for reduced samples of only those men and women who reported AI. For men, RD was associated with a lower odds of being hepatitis C antibody positive, greater odds of being positive for hepatitis B virus surface antigen, syphilis, and using lubricants for receptive anal intercourse (RAI). RD in women was associated with higher odds of a positive test for syphilis, ever vaginally douching for VI, and using lubricants for RAI. Men and women who practice RD report positive syphilis test results and use of lubricants for RAI. RD should not be perceived as preventing STIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace L Reynolds
- Department of Health Care Administration, Center for Behavioral Research and Services, California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA.,Center for Behavioral Research and Services, Psychology Department, California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Dennis G Fisher
- Center for Behavioral Research and Services, Psychology Department, California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA.,Center for Behavioral Research and Services, Department of Health Care Administration, California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Erlyana Erlyana
- Department of Health Care Administration, Center for Behavioral Research and Services, California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA.,Center for Behavioral Research and Services, Psychology Department, California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA
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16
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Xia W, Zhao J, Su B, Jiao Y, Weng W, Zhang M, Wang X, Guo C, Wu H, Zhang T, Gao Y, Li Z. Syphilitic infection impairs immunity by inducing both apoptosis and pyroptosis of CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes. Innate Immun 2020; 27:99-106. [PMID: 32873094 PMCID: PMC7780356 DOI: 10.1177/1753425920952840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Syphilis is an important health problem worldwide; however, few studies have probed the impact of syphilitic infection on T cell turnover. The mechanisms behind the frequency of T cell subset changes and the associations between these subsets during syphilitic infection remain unclear. Herein, we used a cell-staining method and flow cytometry to explore changes in T cell subpopulations and potential contribution of apoptosis and pyroptosis that triggered therein. We investigated caspase-1-mediated pyroptosis and caspase-3-mediated apoptosis of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, the major effector lymphocytes with pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases. We found that the levels of caspase-1 and caspase-3 increased in both the circulation and intracellularly in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Caspase-1 showed a continual increase from early latent stage infection through to phase 2 disease, whereas caspase-3 increased through to phase 1 disease but declined during phase 2. In addition, serum levels and intracellular expression of caspase-1 and caspase-3 were positively correlated. Overall, this study increases our understanding of how syphilitic infection influences CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell turnover, which may help with designing novel and effective strategies to control syphilis infection and prevent its transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Xia
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, China
| | - Jinxue Zhao
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China.,Department of Dermatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China.,Department of Dermatology, The First Hospital of Fangshan District, China
| | - Bin Su
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, China
| | - Yanmei Jiao
- Treatment and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, the Fifth Medical Center of the General Hospital of PLA, China *Wei Xia and Jinxue Zhao contributed equally to the article
| | - Wenjia Weng
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China.,Department of Dermatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China.,Department of Dermatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China
| | - Xiaodan Wang
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China.,Department of Dermatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China
| | - Caiping Guo
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, China
| | - Yanqing Gao
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China.,Department of Dermatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China
| | - Zaicun Li
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China
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17
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Factors Associated With Increased Syphilis Screening Among People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Sex Transm Dis 2020; 46:521-526. [PMID: 31295220 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000001015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antiretroviral therapy effectively reduces the risk of human immunodeficiency virus transmission, but in the context of undetectable equals untransmittable and decreased condom use, rates of syphilis are increasing. In Oregon, syphilis has risen over 20-fold in the past decade, from less than 30 to approximately 600 cases annually during 2016 and 2017. Although many cases are among people living with human immunodeficiency virus infection (PLWH), screening for syphilis among PLWH is often lacking. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of past-year syphilis testing among PLWH in Oregon to identify facility-level and individual-level factors associated with testing. METHODS We examined 2015 to 2016 Medical Monitoring Project interview and medical records data in Oregon and conducted supplemental interviews with participants' medical providers. We used generalized mixed effects models to identify factors associated with syphilis screening. RESULTS Sixty-nine percent of Medical Monitoring Project participants had past-year syphilis screening. Patients receiving care from facilities with written sexually transmitted infection screening policies were far more likely to be screened than those receiving care from facilities without written policies (94% vs. 43%, P < 0.001). Participants who identified as male were more likely to have been tested, even after adjusting for facility-level characteristics. Clustering within facility accounted for about 15% of the unexplained variability in the adjusted mixed effects models. CONCLUSIONS Written sexually transmitted infection screening policies at medical facilities appear to be an important tool for ensuring syphilis screening occurs as recommended to prevent the continued rise in syphilis.
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18
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Ang LW, Wong CS, Ng OT, Leo YS. Incidence of syphilis among HIV-infected men in Singapore, 2006-2017: temporal trends and associated risk factors. Sex Transm Infect 2020; 96:293-299. [PMID: 31371448 PMCID: PMC7279196 DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2019-054163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There have been recent reports globally on substantial increase in syphilis diagnoses particularly among high-risk men. The aim of this study was to assess temporal trends of incident syphilis and associated risk factors among HIV-infected men in Singapore. METHODS We conducted retrospective cohort analysis using the clinical database maintained by the Clinical HIV Programme at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore. HIV-infected men with a negative syphilis result at baseline who had undergone at least one subsequent test in 2006-2017 were included. Factors associated with incident syphilis were investigated using Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. RESULTS A total of 1069 HIV-infected men were tested for syphilis at least once following their negative baseline test during the 12-year period, and they contributed 4284 person-years of follow-up (PYFU). There were 266 cases of incident syphilis, giving an overall incidence of 6.21 per 100 PYFU (95% CI 5.49-7.00). The incidence of syphilis per 100 PYFU increased from 1.21 (95% CI 0.33 to 3.10) in 2010 to 26.04 (95% CI 19.97 to 33.40) in 2017. In the multivariable model, risk factors for syphilis seroconversion were: age 15-24 years at HIV diagnosis (adjusted HR (aHR) 1.64, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.56) versus ≥45 years, being Chinese (aHR 1.82, 95% CI 1.01 to 3.29) versus Indian and other minority ethnic groups, men having sex with men (MSM) (aHR 3.29, 95% CI 2.22 to 4.87) versus heterosexuals, and HIV diagnosis in later periods of 2009-2011 (aHR 1.96, 95% CI 1.41 to 2.74), 2012-2014 (aHR 3.96, 95% CI 2.68 to 5.83) and 2015-2017 (aHR 7.94, 95% CI 4.52 to 13.95) versus 2006-2008. CONCLUSION The annual incidence rate of syphilis in HIV-infected men was on the rise, and it was consistently higher among MSM than in heterosexual men. The findings supported regular screening for syphilis and enhanced behavioural interventions in Singapore.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wei Ang
- National Public Health and Epidemiology Unit, National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore
| | - Chen Seong Wong
- National Public Health and Epidemiology Unit, National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore
| | - Oon Tek Ng
- National Public Health and Epidemiology Unit, National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore
| | - Yee Sin Leo
- National Public Health and Epidemiology Unit, National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore
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Huang L, Cheng W, Han Z, Liang Y, Wu H, Wang H, Xu H, Tang S. Syphilis infection does not affect immunodeficiency progression in HIV-infected men who have sex with men in China. Int J STD AIDS 2020; 31:488-496. [PMID: 32157947 DOI: 10.1177/0956462419860618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection is expected to play a role in HIV-1-related immunodeficiency progression; however, studies involving syphilis/HIV co-infection have not been conclusive. We investigated the factors associated with co-infection of syphilis and HIV and to assess the effect of syphilis on HIV progression in the context of HIV-1 diversity in an observational cohort of 246 newly-diagnosed HIV-infected but antiretroviral therapy-naive men who have sex with men enrolled in Guangzhou, China between 2008 and 2012. CD4+ cell counts of all the participants were measured from the time of diagnosis until 2015 with an average of 32 ± 18 months. Logistic analysis indicated that patients with syphilis/HIV co-infection were more likely to be older with an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 2.48 (95% CI: 1.28–4.80) for those aged between 31 and 40 years and 3.20 (1.11–9.22) for those aged ≥40 years as compared to 16–30 year-olds. The AOR of patients infected with HIV-1 CRF07_BC as compared to CRF01_AE was 2.14 (95% CI: 1.01–4.53). Co-infection of syphilis and HIV was associated with lower baseline CD4+ cell count (0.45, 95% CI: 0.22–0.94), but was not associated with HIV disease progression (HR: 1.03; 95% CI, 0.86–1.23) based on Kaplan–Meier analysis. Our results provide new evidence about the interaction between syphilis and HIV and indicate differential rates of immunodeficiency progression as a function of HIV-1 genetic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Huang
- Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; School of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weibin Cheng
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China.,Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhigang Han
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuanhao Liang
- Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; School of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haiying Wang
- Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; School of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huifang Xu
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shixing Tang
- Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; School of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Guangzhou, China.,Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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20
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Guo N, Liu L, Yang X, Song T, Li G, Li L, Jiang T, Gao Y, Zhang T, Su B, Wu H. Immunological Changes in Monocyte Subsets and Their Association With Foxp3 + Regulatory T Cells in HIV-1-Infected Individuals With Syphilis: A Brief Research Report. Front Immunol 2019; 10:714. [PMID: 31024549 PMCID: PMC6465566 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of syphilis has increased dramatically in men who have sex with men (MSM), especially those with HIV-1 infection. Treponema pallidum and HIV-1 are bidirectionally synergistic, accelerating disease progression reciprocally in co-infected individuals. We have shown that monocytes have different effects on T helper cells at different stages of HIV-1 infection. However, the immunological changes in the three monocyte subsets and in regulatory T cells (Tregs), and the associations between these cell types during syphilis infection among HIV-1-infected MSM remain unclear. Herein, we used cell staining methods to explore changes in monocyte subsets and Tregs and any associations between these cells. We found that the frequency of classical monocytes was higher in the rapid plasma reagin (RPR+) group than in the healthy controls (HCs) and the chronic HIV-1 infection (CHI) plus RPR+ (CHI&RPR+) group. The frequencies of Foxp3+CD25+CD45RA+ and Foxp3+Helios+CD45RA+ Tregs were significantly higher in the RPR+, CHI, and CHI&RPR+ groups than in HCs, whereas the frequency of CD45RA+ Tregs was lower in the CHI&RPR+ group than in CHI group. The frequencies of Foxp3+CD25+CD45RO+ and Foxp3+Helios+CD45RO+ Tregs were lower in the RPR+, CHI, and CHI&RPR+ groups than in HCs. The frequency of intermediate monocytes was inversely correlated with the frequency of CD45RA+ Tregs and positively correlated with the frequency of CD45RO+ Tregs. These results demonstrate for the first time that intermediate monocytes control the differentiation of Treg subsets in Treponema pallidum/HIV-1 co-infections. These findings provide new insights into an immunological mechanism involving monocytes/Tregs in HIV-infected individuals with syphilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Guo
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Beijing, China
| | - Lifeng Liu
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaodong Yang
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Beijing, China
| | - Ting Song
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Beijing, China
| | - Guanxin Li
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Beijing, China
| | - Li Li
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Beijing, China
| | - Taiyi Jiang
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Beijing, China
| | - Yanqing Gao
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Su
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Beijing, China
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Evaluating the Impact of Housing Status on Gonorrhea and Chlamydia Screening in an HIV Primary Care Setting. Sex Transm Dis 2019; 46:153-158. [PMID: 30383619 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000000939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Gonorrhea and chlamydia (GC/CT) testing falls below recommended rates for people living with HIV (PLWH) in routine care. Despite evidence that homelessness and unstable housing (HUH) negatively impacts clinical outcomes for PLWH, little is known about GC/CT screening for HUH-PLWH in routine care. METHODS Using an observational cohort of PLWH establishing care at a large publicly funded HIV clinic in San Francisco between February 2013 and December 2014 and with at least 1 primary care visit (PCV) before February 2016, we assessed GC/CT testing for HUH (staying outdoors, in shelters, in vehicles, or in places not made for habitation in the last year) compared with stably housed patients. We calculated (1) the odds of having GC/CT screening at a PCV using logistic regression with random effects to handle intrasubject correlations and (2) the percent of time enrolled in clinical care in which patients had any GC/CT testing ("time in coverage") based on 180-day periods and using linear regression modeling. RESULTS Of 323 patients, mean age was 43 years, 92% were male, 52% were non-Latino white, and 46% were HUH. Homeless and unstably housed PLWH had 0.66 odds of GC/CT screening at a PCV than did stably housed patients (95% confidence interval, 0.44-0.99; P = 0.043). Time in coverage showed no difference by housing status (regression coefficient, -0.93; 95% confidence interval, -8.02 to 6.16; P = 0.80). CONCLUSIONS Homeless and unstably housed PLWH had 34% lower odds of GC/CT screening at a PCV, demonstrating a disparity in routine care provision, but similar time in coverage. More research is needed to effectively increase GC/CT screening among HUH-PLWH.
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Spagnuolo V, Poli A, Galli L, Nozza S, Bossolasco S, Cernuschi M, Maillard M, Hasson H, Gianotti N, Guffanti M, Lazzarin A, Castagna A. Incidence and Predictors of Serological Treatment Response in Early and Late Syphilis Among People Living With HIV. Open Forum Infect Dis 2018; 6:ofy324. [PMID: 30631790 PMCID: PMC6324658 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofy324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 11/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Few studies have investigated predictors of serological response to syphilis treatment in people living with HIV (PLWH). Methods This was a retrospective, longitudinal study on PLWH who were diagnosed with and treated for syphilis who had an assessable serological response between January 2004 and June 2016. Serological treatment response (TR) was defined as a ≥4-fold decline in rapid plasma reagin (RPR) titers or a reversion to nonreactive (if RPR ≤1:4 at diagnosis) 12 months after treatment for early syphilis and 24 months after treatment for late syphilis. Factors associated with a TR were assessed with multivariate Cox proportional hazard models for recurrent events. Results A total of 829 episodes of syphilis (686 early, 143 late) in 564 patients were recorded. TR was observed in 732 (88%) syphilis episodes. The proportion of TR differed between early and late syphilis (89% vs 83%, respectively; P = .045). For early syphilis, TR was associated with a higher nadir CD4+ cell count (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 1.06; P = .029), an RPR titer >1:32 at diagnosis (AHR, 1.26; P = .009), secondary syphilis (AHR, 1.29; P = .008), and cases of syphilis diagnosed in more recent calendar years (AHR, 1.36; P < .0001). In late syphilis, TR was more likely to occur for first infections (AHR, 1.80; P = .027), for episodes that occurred in more recent years (AHR, 1.62; P = .007), and for RPR titers >1:32 at diagnosis (AHR, 2.04; P = .002). TR was not associated with the type of treatment regimen in early and late syphilis. Conclusions Higher RPR titers at diagnosis and a diagnosis of syphilis that was made in more recent years were associated with TR in early and late syphilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Spagnuolo
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Milan, Italy.,IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Poli
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Galli
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Nozza
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Milan, Italy
| | - Simona Bossolasco
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Cernuschi
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Milan, Italy
| | - Myriam Maillard
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Milan, Italy
| | - Hamid Hasson
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Gianotti
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Guffanti
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Milan, Italy
| | - Adriano Lazzarin
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonella Castagna
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Milan, Italy.,IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Milan, Italy
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da Motta LR, Sperhacke RD, Adami ADG, Kato SK, Vanni AC, Paganella MP, de Oliveira MCP, Giozza SP, da Cunha ARC, Pereira GFM, Benzaken AS. Syphilis prevalence and risk factors among young men presenting to the Brazilian Army in 2016: Results from a national survey. Medicine (Baltimore) 2018; 97:e13309. [PMID: 30461642 PMCID: PMC6393142 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000013309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The Conscripts Survey has been conducted periodically by the Brazilian Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), AIDS, and Viral Hepatitis (DIAHV) in collaboration with the Brazilian Ministry of Defense for over 2 decades. It aims to assess the syphilis prevalence and obtain data on knowledge regarding STIs and their risk factors among conscripts enlisted for the Brazilian Army.This cross-sectional study was conducted among conscripts across Brazil aged 17 to 22 years from August to December 2016. It included a self-reported questionnaire and blood testing for syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B and C.In total 38,247 conscripts were enrolled; after exclusion due to a lack of information, 37,282 (93.2%) conscripts were included. The estimated syphilis prevalence rates were: 1.63%, 1.09%, and 0.62% for screened, confirmed, and active syphilis, respectively. Among those with active syphilis, 81.1% reported not having syphilis infection in their lifetime. Higher confirmed syphilis prevalence rates were observed in the South region, followed by North and Southeast regions. Independent factors associated with confirmed syphilis infection were: self-reported STIs in one's lifetime (odds ratio [OR] = 7.24; P < .001), same-sex sexual relationships (OR = 3.43; P = .001), and having the 1st sexual intercourse encounter before 15 years of age (OR = 2.62; P = .04). The proportion of conscripts who reported having sex with other men (MSM) was 4.3%, and the estimated syphilis prevalence in this group was 5.23%, 4.61%, and 3.60% for screened, confirmed, and active syphilis, respectively. The sexual behaviors most frequently associated with confirmed syphilis were: sexual relationship with casual partners in the last year (P < .001), same-sex sexual relationships (P < .001), more than 10 partners (P = .006), and having sexual intercourse before 15 years of age (P = .003). Although not significant, only 25.4% of the conscripts who had a confirmed syphilis reported the use of condoms with steady partners, 32.4% with casual partner, and 24.3% with any partner.We found that syphilis is on the rise among the young Brazilian male population. The increase in its prevalence, particularly among MSM, highlights the need for urgent public health interventions, action plans, and implementation of risk reduction strategies aimed at this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Rapone da Motta
- HIV/AIDS Research Laboratory (LPHA), Life Sciences Knowledge Area. University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul
| | - Rosa Dea Sperhacke
- HIV/AIDS Research Laboratory (LPHA), Life Sciences Knowledge Area. University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul
| | - Aline de Gregori Adami
- HIV/AIDS Research Laboratory (LPHA), Life Sciences Knowledge Area. University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul
| | - Sérgio Kakuta Kato
- Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS
| | - Andréa Cristina Vanni
- HIV/AIDS Research Laboratory (LPHA), Life Sciences Knowledge Area. University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul
| | - Machline Paim Paganella
- HIV/AIDS Research Laboratory (LPHA), Life Sciences Knowledge Area. University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul
| | - Maria Cristina Pimenta de Oliveira
- Department of Surveillance, Prevention and Control of STI, HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis, Secretariat of Health Surveillance, Ministry of Health of Brazil, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Silvana Pereira Giozza
- Department of Surveillance, Prevention and Control of STI, HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis, Secretariat of Health Surveillance, Ministry of Health of Brazil, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Alessandro Ricardo Caruso da Cunha
- Department of Surveillance, Prevention and Control of STI, HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis, Secretariat of Health Surveillance, Ministry of Health of Brazil, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Gerson Fernando Mendes Pereira
- Department of Surveillance, Prevention and Control of STI, HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis, Secretariat of Health Surveillance, Ministry of Health of Brazil, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Adele Schwartz Benzaken
- Department of Surveillance, Prevention and Control of STI, HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis, Secretariat of Health Surveillance, Ministry of Health of Brazil, Brasília, DF, Brazil
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