Seroprevalence and seroincidence of herpes simplex virus (2006-2010), syphilis (2006-2010), and vaccine-preventable human papillomavirus subtypes (2000-2010) among US military personnel

HPV Vaccine Usage Among the U.S. Military Academy Corps of Cadets (2018-2025)

INTRODUCTION

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted virus that infects over 13 million people every year. Over 80% of sexually active adults will acquire HPV at some point in their lives, which is concerning since certain high-risk strains of HPV can cause six types of cancer. Vaccination against HPV is safe and effective, but despite high vaccine efficacy, vaccination rates are low among both service members and civilians.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study to identify the percentage of United States Military Academy (USMA) Cadets who had received at least one HPV vaccine and those who completed the vaccine series. Deidentified vaccination and demographic data were retrieved from the Defense Health Agency Military Health System Data Repository (MDR) for all Cadets who were enrolled at USMA between January 2018 and May 2022 (graduating classes of 2018-2025). To identify the population of Cadets for our study and confirm presence of "any" vaccine in the MDR, Tdap vaccination information was also retrieved. The study population was defined as any Cadet who was enrolled at USMA between January 2018 and May 2022 (graduating classes of 2018-2025) and had record of an HPV and/or Tdap vaccine in the MDR. We compared demographic information between the identified population and known demographics of the USMA population to confirm that the retrieved data were consistent with population demographics. Descriptive statistics were performed to identify demographic differences based on vaccinated and unvaccinated Cadets and to determine the percentage of Cadets who received at least one HPV vaccine. Vaccine series completion was defined as the receipt of three HPV vaccine doses among those who reported receiving at least one dose of HPV vaccine or two doses if vaccinated before the age 15.

RESULTS

A total of 9,567 Cadets were assessed for eligibility with 9,433 having Tdap and/or HPV vaccine on record. Of these Cadets, 5,738/9,433 (60.8%) had received at least one HPV vaccine. Of those starting the series, 4,492 completed the two- or three-dose series for a completion rate of 47.6%. We found HPV vaccine completion rate among female Cadets (55.6%) is higher than that of male Cadets (45.2%). More Cadets from minority groups received one vaccine; however, full completion rates were similar for both the groups (48.1%). In contrast, the percentage of Cadets vaccinated against Tdap was 97.2%. Most of those vaccinated received their first vaccine between the ages of 11 and 15 (53.0%) and their final vaccine after they turned 16 (68.9%).

CONCLUSION

Though the vaccination rate among the Corps of Cadets is comparable to the public, it is still less than the 80.0% goal set by the Healthy People 2030 objective. Based on these results, we recommend that the USMA modify its policy on HPV vaccine administration to encourage more vaccine uptake. We also conclude that further studies on the rationale for avoiding the vaccine are necessary to better inform educational campaigns and mitigate stigma.

A review of skin disease in military soldiers: challenges and potential solutions

Introduction: Military soldiers comprised 1,195 million United States active-duty members and 778,000 reserve members in 9/2021. Soldiers are often exposed to drastic climates, environments, and living conditions which may make them more susceptible to cutaneous diseases.Methods: A PubMed search of studies published between 1/1/2002 - 8/30/2022, using MeSH terms: ((("Military Personnel"[Majr]) OR "Military Hygiene"[Majr])) OR "Military Medicine"[Majr]) AND "Skin Diseases"[Majr]), the reference lists of select articles, and other applicable sources were reviewed to identify articles on skin conditions affecting military soldiers and treatment options.Discussion: In this article, we review skin conditions that affect military soldiers in both the deployed and non-deployed settings including infectious diseases, arthropod associated diseases, sexually transmitted infections, ultraviolet radiation related skin disease, acne, diseases of hair and hair follicles, dermatitis, onychocryptosis, and conditions caused by extreme weather conditions and occupational exposures. We also discuss treatment options and prevention methods as they relate to military settings.Conclusion: Dermatological conditions can considerably impact soldiers' wellbeing and military performance, often lead to evacuation of military personnel, and are associated with high financial costs. Cutaneous disease is one of most common reasons for soldiers to seek medical care and may cause significant morbidity. Serving in the military often impacts and limits treatment options.

Sexually Transmitted Infections in U.S. Military Women: A Scoping Review 2000-2018

PURPOSE

High rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have been documented among U.S. military servicemembers. The purpose of this scoping review is to evaluate the literature to determine what is known about the risk factors, preventive measures, and health outcomes regarding STIs among active duty servicewomen.

METHODS

A search of six bibliographic databases and the grey literature identified articles published from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2018. A two-level review process was used to evaluate the inclusion of articles.

RESULTS

Fifty-six articles were included. The majority of studies (n = 47) were descriptive (95%). The primary STIs of focus were chlamydia (66%) and gonorrhea (38%), with a lesser focus on herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (17%) and syphilis (11%). There were no studies on chancroid or pubic lice. Chlamydia and gonorrhea were highly prevalent. Age, race, and gender were nonmodifiable risk factors, whereas behaviors, beliefs, socioeconomic level, marital status, and concomitant or repeat infections were modifiable risk factors. Educational programs and studies evaluating efficacious STI prevention methods were lacking. STI diagnoses occurred in servicewomen at their home stations as well as in deployed settings.

CONCLUSION

STIs remain an ongoing public health challenge with insufficient research to guide military and health care leaders. Future research should focus on prospective designs that leverage identified risk factors and at-risk populations where the most impact can be made to promote reproductive health.

Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program: Building the Bench

The role of physicians in the U.S. Armed Forces is diverse, encompassing a wide array of skills and responsibilities to provide superior healthcare to their patients and to advance military medicine. In addition to healthcare delivery and medical education, military physicians are engaged in public health, operational medicine, and cutting-edge medical research. Thus, clinical research is a crucial component of Graduate Medical Education (GME) and supports critical thinking (knowledge, skills, and abilities) and the development of leadership skills among U.S. military physicians. The Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program (IDCRP) education mission was established in 2005 with the overall goal of supporting the development and training of the next generation of clinical researchers in infectious diseases and related public health disciplines in the Armed Forces using several strategies, including didactic learning, mentored research, and research engagement. Through involvement in the IDCRP, infectious disease fellows, residents (e.g., surgical, internal medicine, and pediatrics), and Master of Public Health (MPH) students have continued their education and gained valuable skills related to clinical research. Trainees either conduct research with IDCRP mentors or participate in IDCRP-led practicum experiences, with research projects ranging from epidemiologic studies to microbiological assessments. Consistent with the needs of the Military Health System (MHS), and in accordance with Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education goals, the IDCRP provides opportunities for medical and graduate students, residents, and infectious disease fellows to conduct mentored research within the MHS, as well as gain important leadership skills in the conduct of clinical research. Overall, IDCRP continues to further infectious disease research through the support and education of the next generation of active-duty infectious disease researchers in the MHS.

The US Military HIV Natural History Study: Informing Military HIV Care and Policy for Over 30 Years

INTRODUCTION

In October 1985, 4 years after the initial descriptions of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) began routine screening for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection to prevent infected recruits from exposure to live virus vaccines, implemented routine active-duty force screening to ensure timely care and help protect the walking blood bank, and initiated the U.S. Military HIV Natural History Study (NHS) to develop epidemiologic, clinical, and basic science evidence to inform military HIV policy and establish a repository of data and specimens for future research. Here, we have reviewed accomplishments of the NHS over the past 30 years and sought to describe relevant trends among NHS subjects over this time, with emphasis on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) use and non-AIDS comorbidities.

METHODS

Subjects who were prospectively enrolled in the NHS from 1986 through 2015 were included in this analysis. Time periods were classified by decade of study conduct, 1986-1995, 1996-2005, and 2006-2015, which also correlate approximately with pre-, early-, and late-combination ART (cART) eras. Analyses included descriptive statistics and comparisons among decades. We also evaluated mean community log10 HIV viral load (CVL) and CD4 counts for each year.

RESULTS

A total of 5,758 subjects were enrolled between 1986 and 2015, of whom 92% were male with a median age of 28 years, and 45% were African-American, 42% Caucasian, and 13% Hispanic/other. The proportion of African-Americans remained stable over the decades (45%, 47%, and 42%, respectively), while the proportion of Hispanic/other increased (10%, 13%, and 24%, respectively). The CD4 count at HIV diagnosis has remained high (median 496 cells/uL), while the occurrence of AIDS-defining conditions (excluding low CD4 count) has decreased by decade (36.7%, 5.4%, and 2.9%, respectively). Following the introduction of effective cART in 1996, CVL declined through 2000 as use increased and then plateaued until guidelines changed. After 2004, cART use again increased and CVL declined further until 2012-15 when the vast majority of subjects achieved viral suppression. Non-AIDS comorbidities have remained common, with approximately half of subjects experiencing one or more new diagnoses overall and nearly half of subjects diagnosed between 2006 and 2015, in spite of their relatively young age, shorter median follow-up, and wide use of cART.

CONCLUSIONS

The US Military HIV NHS has been critical to understanding the impact of HIV infection among active-duty service members and military beneficiaries, as well as producing insights that are broadly relevant. In addition, the rich repository of NHS data and specimens serves as a resource to investigators in the DoD, NIH, and academic community, markedly increasing scientific yield and identifying novel associations. Looking forward, the NHS remains relevant to understanding host factor correlates of virologic and immunologic control, biologic pathways of HIV pathogenesis, causes and consequences of residual inflammation in spite of effective cART, identifying predictors of and potential approaches to mitigation of excess non-AIDS comorbidities, and helping to understand the latent reservoir.

Herpes simplex virus: global infection prevalence and incidence estimates, 2016

Objective

To generate global and regional estimates for the prevalence and incidence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and type 2 infection for 2016.

Methods

To obtain data, we undertook a systematic review to identify studies up to August 2018. Adjustments were made to account for HSV test sensitivity and specificity. For each World Health Organization (WHO) region, we applied a constant incidence model to pooled prevalence by age and sex to estimate the prevalence and incidence of HSV types 1 and 2 infections. For HSV type 1, we apportioned infection by anatomical site using pooled estimates of the proportions that were oral and genital.

Findings

In 2016, an estimated 491.5 million people (95% uncertainty interval, UI: 430.4 million–610.6 million) were living with HSV type 2 infection, equivalent to 13.2% of the world’s population aged 15–49 years. An estimated 3752.0 million people (95% UI: 3555.5 million–3854.6 million) had HSV type 1 infection at any site, equivalent to a global prevalence of 66.6% in 0–49-year-olds. Differing patterns were observed by age, sex and geographical region, with HSV type 2 prevalence being highest among women and in the WHO African Region.

Conclusion

An estimated half a billion people had genital infection with HSV type 2 or type 1, and several billion had oral HSV type 1 infection. Millions of people may also be at higher risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), particularly women in the WHO African Region who have the highest HSV type 2 prevalence and exposure to HIV.

Using Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) data to identify missed opportunities for HPV vaccination

Despite high HPV prevalence and low vaccination rates in the military, HPV vaccination is not required upon military service initiation. Given that national HPV vaccination rates remain low among people age 19-26 years, military service may represent an opportune time for intervention. The purpose of this study was to quantify the rate of HPV vaccination among young patients entering primary care at a single Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). Vaccination rates among veterans age ≤ 26 years old at first primary care visit were identified from the institutional data warehouse. Among 1,258 eligible patients, most were male (n = 782). The HPV vaccine initiation rate was 21.2%. Overall, 10.4% of patients received at least 1 HPV vaccine prior to initiating care at the VA (25.2% females and 1.4% males). An additional 10.8% of patients received their first HPV vaccine upon initiating care at the VA. Median age of first HPV vaccination was 21.4 years among patients that initiated the vaccine in the military versus 24.8 years among those that initiated vaccination at the VA. In conclusion, this study demonstrated low HPV vaccination rates both prior to transitioning to VA primary care and once receiving care at the VA. Additionally, among veterans that had not received vaccination upon initiating care at the VA, older age at vaccination was observed. Older age at vaccination may reduce HPV vaccine effectiveness given higher risk of exposure. Addition of HPV to the list of mandated vaccines upon military service initiation should be considered.

Extragenital chlamydia infection among active-duty women in the United States Navy

BACKGROUND

Pharyngeal and anorectal reservoirs of gonorrhea (GC) and chlamydia (CT) are increasingly recognized among heterosexual women. While a number of studies performed at sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics have found a high prevalence of extragenital GC/CT infection, such screening is typically not offered during routine primary care visits for women. We sought to define the prevalence of and factors associated with extragenital GC/CT among women in the U.S. Navy.

METHODS

We recruited servicewomen stationed in San Diego, California, between the ages of 18 and 25 who presented for an annual physical exam between January and September, 2017. Nucleic acid amplification testing was performed on swabs collected at endocervical, oropharyngeal and anorectal sites to assess the presence of GC/CT. An anonymous behavioral questionnaire was also administered to characterize sexual risk. Descriptive statistics were used to compare women with and without a prior history of any sexually transmitted infection (STI) (self-report) along with a current GC/CT diagnosis. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences.

RESULTS

Of the 75 patients who were approached, 60 subjects were enrolled in the study, including white 20 (33.3%), black/African American 18 (31.0%), Hispanic/Latina 13 (21.7%) and Asian/Pacific Islander 9 (15.5%) women. Among all the women, six (10.0%) were diagnosed with CT infection, all via endocervical exam. Of these, five (8.3%) had concurrent anorectal infection, including two cases (3.3%) accompanied by pharyngeal infection. Of the subjects, 15 (25.0%) reported anal intercourse in their most recent sexual encounter, most of which was condomless (13/15, 86.7%). A high number of women who reported sex with a casual male partner (19/45, 42.2%) reported rarely or never using condoms; last, 41.7% consuming at least 3 drinks on a typical drinking day, and one-third of the reported drinking more than once per week.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a high prevalence of anorectal CT infection, although no infections were detected without concurrent endocervical involvement. Nonetheless, the high prevalence of condomless anal intercourse reported by participants argues for further study and ongoing consideration of extragenital screening among high-risk patients. Behavioral interventions are also warranted given the high prevalence of sexual and related risk factors.

Sustained Preoperative Opioid Use Is a Predictor of Continued Use Following Spine Surgery

BACKGROUND

Preoperative opioid use is known to increase the likelihood of complications and inferior outcomes following spine surgery. We evaluated the association of preoperative opioid use and other risk factors with postoperative opioid use.

METHODS

We queried 2006-2014 TRICARE insurance claims to identify adults who underwent lumbar interbody arthrodesis, lumbar discectomy, lumbar decompression, or lumbar posterolateral arthrodesis. The duration of preoperative opioid use was categorized as acute exposure, exposed without sustained use, intermediate sustained use, and chronic sustained use. Cox proportional-hazard models that adjusted for demographic factors, preoperative diagnoses, comorbidities, postoperative complications, and the type of procedure performed were used to identify factors associated with a reduced likelihood of opioid discontinuation following the surgical procedure.

RESULTS

There were 27,031 patients included in this analysis. Following the surgical procedure, 67.1% of patients had discontinued opioid use by 30 days, and 86.4% had ceased use by 90 days. Overall, 2,379 patients (8.8%) continued to use opioid medications at 6 months. Duration of preoperative opioid use, among other demographic and clinical factors, was the most important predictor of continued use following a surgical procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of patients who were using prescription opioids prior to the surgical procedure discontinued these medications postoperatively. Duration of preoperative use appears to be the most important predictor of sustained use following a surgical procedure.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Our results indicate that the majority of patients who are using prescription opioids prior to spine surgery discontinue these medications following surgical intervention. Among those who continue opioid use ≥90 days after the surgical procedure, the duration of preoperative use appears to be the most important predictor.

The Association between Sexually Transmitted Infections, Length of Service and Other Demographic Factors in the U.S. Military

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies have found higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among military personnel than the general population, but the cumulative risk of acquiring STIs throughout an individual's military career has not been described.

METHODS

Using ICD-9 diagnosis codes, we analyzed the medical records of 100,005 individuals from all service branches, divided in equal cohorts (n = 6,667) between 1997 and 2011. As women receive frequent STI screening compared to men, these groups were analyzed separately. Incidence rates were calculated for pathogen-specific STIs along with syndromic diagnoses. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the individuals within each accession year cohort; repeat infections were censored.

RESULTS

The total sample included 29,010 females and 70,995 males. The STI incidence rates (per 100 person-years) for women and men, respectively, were as follows: chlamydia (3.5 and 0.7), gonorrhea (1.1 and 0.4), HIV (0.04 and 0.07) and syphilis (0.14 and 0.15). During the study period, 22% of women and 3.3% of men received a pathogen-specific STI diagnosis; inclusion of syndromic diagnoses increased STI prevalence to 41% and 5.5%, respectively. In multivariate analyses, factors associated with etiologic and syndromic STIs among women included African American race, younger age and fewer years of education. In the overall sample, increasing number of years of service was associated with an increased likelihood of an STI diagnosis (p<0.001 for trend).

CONCLUSION

In this survey of military personnel, we found very high rates of STI acquisition throughout military service, especially among women, demonstrating that STI-related risk is significant and ongoing throughout military service. Lower STI incidence rates among men may represent under-diagnosis and demonstrate a need for enhancing male-directed screening and diagnostic interventions.

Seroprevalence and Associated Factors of 9-Valent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Types among Men in the Multinational HIM Study

Background

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide. Recently a 9-valent HPV (9vHPV) prophylactic vaccine was licensed. Seroprevalence prior to vaccine dissemination is needed for monitoring vaccine effectiveness over time. Few studies have assessed the seroprevalence of 9vHPV types in men.

Objectives

To investigate the seroprevalence of 9vHPV vaccine types and associated risk factors among men residing in Brazil, Mexico, and the United States.

Methods

Six hundred men were randomly selected from the HPV Infection in Men (HIM) Study. Archived serum specimens collected at enrollment were tested for antibodies against nine HPV types (6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58) using a glutathione S-transferase (GST) L1-based multiplex serologic assay. Socio-demographic, lifestyle and sexual behavior data at enrollment were collected through a questionnaire. Binomial proportions were used to estimate seroprevalence and logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with seropositivity of type-specific and grouped (i.e. 9vHPV, high-risk 9vHPV, low risk 9vHPV, and five-additional) HPV types.

Results

Overall, 28.3% of men were seropositive for at least one of the 9vHPV vaccine types, 14.0% for at least one of the seven high-risk types (16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58) and 11.2% for at least one of the five high-risk types (31, 33, 45, 52 and 58) not included in the quadrivalent HPV vaccine, and 17.4% for at least one of the low-risk types (6/11). In multivariate analyses, odds ratios adjusted (AOR) for country of residence, age, marital status, smoking, number of anal sex lifetime partners, compared to men with no anal sex lifetime partners, men with ≥2 partners were more likely to be seropositive for grouped HPV [(9vHPV: AOR 2.52; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.40–4.54), (high-risk 9vHPV: AOR 2.18; 95%CI: 1.05–4.50) and (low-risk 9vHPV: AOR 2.12; 95%CI: 1.12–4.03)], and individual HPV types 6, 16, 33 and 58 with AORs ranging from 2.19 to 7.36. Compared to men aged 18–30 years, men older than 30 years were significantly more likely to be seropositive for any high-risk 9vHPV, in addition to individual types 18 and 45; and compared to never smokers, current smokers were more likely to be seropositive to 9vHPV, low-risk 9vHPV and HPV 6. In contrast, married men were less likely to be seropositive to any high-risk 9vHPV and individual HPV types 18 and 31 when compared to single men.

Conclusions

These data indicate that exposure to the nine HPV types included in the 9vHPV vaccine is common in men and that seropositivity to 9vHPV vaccine types is associated with older age and the lifetime number of anal sex partners. Nine valent HPV vaccination of males and females has the potential to prevent HPV related diseases and transmission in both sexes.