High incidence of asymptomatic syphilis in HIV-infected MSM justifies routine screening

BASHH UK guidelines for the management of syphilis 2024

The 2024 UK guidelines for the management of syphilis are in line with current evidence and practice within the UK. Key updates are detailed at the start of the article. These guidelines are accompanied by the first UK guidelines for the management of syphilis in pregnant people and children, 2024.

Meningovascular Neurosyphilis with Cerebral Hemorrhaging in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1-positive Patient

Meningovascular neurosyphilis is a rare manifestation of early neurosyphilis that causes infectious arteritis and ischemic infarction. We herein report a 44-year-old man with meningovascular neurosyphilis who presented with cerebral hemorrhaging. He complained of nausea, vomiting and lightheadedness. The patient tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and head computed tomography showed cerebral hemorrhaging in the upper right frontal lobe and left subcortical parietal lobe. Positive cerebrospinal fluid syphilis tests confirmed the diagnosis. He recovered after treatment for neurosyphilis and anti-HIV therapy. Our case highlights the importance of considering meningovascular neurosyphilis in young patients with multiple instances of cerebral hemorrhaging.

Temporal Trends in Syphilis Incidence among Men with HIV in Busan, Korea, 2005-2022: A Retrospective Cohort Study

We aimed to assess the temporal trends of incident syphilis and its associated risk factors among men with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) in Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of men with HIV attending an HIV clinic in Korea between 2005 and 2022. Of 767 men with HIV, 499 were included and contributed 3220 person-years (PY) of the observation period. Eighty-two patients were diagnosed with incident syphilis, with an overall incidence of 2.55/100 PY (95% confidence interval [CI] 20.56-31.53). The incidence of syphilis per 100 PY gradually decreased from 2.43 (0.79-7.42) in 2005-2007 to 1.85 (1.08-3.17) in 2014-2016; however, it increased to 3.0 (1.99-4.53) in 2017-2019, and further to 3.33 (2.26-4.89) in 2020-2022. A multivariate analysis identified young age (≤30 years versus >50, adjusted HR 6.27, 95% CI 2.38-16.56, p < 0.001), treponemal test positive at baseline (2.33, 1.48-3.67, p < 0.001), men who have sex with men (2.36, 1.34-4.16, p = 0.003), and history of incarceration (2.62, 1.21-5.67, p = 0.015) as risk factors for incident syphilis. Recently, syphilis incidence in men with HIV has increased in Korea, especially in young patients and at-risk groups, highlighting the need for enhanced regular screening and targeted behavioral interventions among these populations.

Syphilis

Syphilis is a curable systemic infectious disease with a clear increase in incidence in recent years. The disease presents with a broad clinical spectrum and challenges clinicians due to the long incubation period and the sometimes complex interpretation of serological test results. Penicillin G remains the treatment of choice in all stages of syphilis.

Prevalence of HIV and syphilis and their co-infection among men having sex with men in Asia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Studies found that the group of men who have sex with men (MSM) is at a very high level of risk of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Asian regions due to multiple reasons. Although the prevalence of HIV among general people in Asia is considered low, the prevalence of HIV and Syphilis among MSM in this region was found very high and usually, it goes unnoticed. This study aimed to inspect the prevalence of and trends in HIV, Syphilis, and their co-infection among MSM in Asia.

Methods

A systematic search was performed on January 5, 2021, in PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. To evaluate the heterogeneity, Q-tests, and I ² were used. To explore the publication bias, Eggers' test and funnel plot were used. The random-effect model and subgroup analysis were performed due to the significant heterogeneity.

Results

A total of 2872 articles were identified, and 66 articles were included in the final analysis. The overall prevalence of HIV and Syphilis among MSM was estimated considering 69 estimates from 66 studies whereas 19 estimates of co-infection were found in 17 studies. The pooled HIV prevalence was 8.48% (CI: 7.01-9.95) and the pooled Syphilis prevalence was 9.86% (CI: 8.30-11.41) with significant heterogeneity and publication bias. The pooled prevalence of HIV and Syphilis co-infection was 2.99% (CI: 1.70-4.27) with significant heterogeneity and no publication bias. The HIV, Syphilis, and HIV-Syphilis co-infection prevalence estimates exhibited an upward trend during 2002-2017.

Conclusions

HIV, Syphilis, and their co-infection are quite prevalent among MSM in the Asia-Pacific region. Integrated and intensified intervention strategies, HIV testing, and improved access to antiretroviral treatment as well as increased awareness are needed to reduce HIV, Syphilis, and their co-infection among the discussed vulnerable group.

Investigating latent syphilis in HIV treatment-experienced Ethiopians and response to therapy

Objectives

We investigated people with HIV (PWH) receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) for latent syphilis infection prevalence, risk factors, treatment response, and neurosyphilis.

Methods

A prospective follow-up study was conducted on PWH and latent syphilis. The cases were randomly assigned to receive either benzathine penicillin G (BPG) or doxycycline (DOXY), and the posttreatment response was evaluated after 12 and 24 months. The traditional algorithm was used for serodiagnosis, and a semi-quantitative rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test monitored disease activity and treatment effectiveness.

Results

Of the 823 participants, 64.8% were women, and the mean age was 41.7±10 years. Thirty-one (3.8%) of the participants (22 males and nine females) had latent syphilis. The risk factors were male sex (aOR = 3.14), increasing age (aOR = 1.04 per year), and cART duration (aOR = 1.01 per month). Baseline RPR titers were: ≤1:4 in 19 (61.3%), between 1:8 and 1:32 in 10 (32.2%), and >1:32 in 2 (6.4%). None of the seven cerebrospinal fluid analyses supported a neurosyphilis diagnosis. In the 12^th month of treatment, 27 (87.1%) had adequate serological responses, three (9.7%) had serological nonresponse, and one (3.2%) had treatment failure. Syphilis treatment was repeated in the last four cases with the alternative drug. In terms of adequate serologic response, both therapies were comparable at the 12^th month, p = 0.37. All cases responded to treatment in the 24^th month.

Conclusion

In PWH receiving cART, latent syphilis occurred more in men than women, suggesting an investigation of sexual practices and the impact of antenatal syphilis screening. Syphilis disease activity reduces in the latent stage. Therefore, the routine cerebrospinal fluid analysis contributes little to the diagnosis of asymptomatic neurosyphilis and the treatment success of latent syphilis. DOXY is an alternative to BPG, and cART improves serologic response to latent syphilis treatment.

Correlates of prevalent syphilis infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV attending the HIV clinic in Trinidad

Background

Syphilis among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV is of public health concern, thus the objective of the study is to determine the correlates of prevalent syphilis infection in this population so that urgent interventions could be instituted.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted during the period September 2020-June 2021 among MSM who attended a large HIV Clinic in Trinidad. A questionnaire was administered to obtain socio-demographic data and correlates of prevalent syphilis and patients were screened for syphilis using the traditional algorithm. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted and multivariable logistic regression factors was used to assess factors significantly associated with a syphilis diagnosis.

Results

Two hundred and sixty four MSM were enrolled; age range 18–64 years, median age 33 years and 89 (34.4%) were actively bisexual. The prevalence of syphilis was 28% (74/264) and 89.2% (66/74) of these infections were asymptomatic. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that those patients who participated in sex with anonymous partners (OR 2.09; 95% CI, 1.03–4.26), those with a previous diagnosis of syphilis (OR 5.16; 95% CI, 1.03–25.83) and those who used marijuana in the last 12 months (OR 2.13; 95% CI, 1.14–3.96) were more likely to be diagnosed with syphilis.

Conclusion

There is a high prevalence of asymptomatic syphilis among MSM living with HIV in Trinidad. Repeat episodes of syphilis and anonymous sex may play a role in the transmission dynamics of T pallidum infection in this population, thus urgent public health prevention interventions are warranted.

Clinical, laboratory and brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) characteristics of asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV-negative neurosyphilis patients

INTRODUCTION

There are few studies concerning the differences between asymptomatic neurosyphilis (ANS) and symptomatic neurosyphilis (SNS). This study aimed to summarize clinical, laboratory and brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) characteristics of HIV-negative patients with ANS and SNS.

METHODS

Data from 43 HIV-negative patients with ANS and 59 HIV-negative patients with SNS were retrospectively collected from our hospital between December 2012 and December 2018.

RESULTS

Compared with the ANS group, SNS group had more patients that were male, age≥45 years, had brain MRI abnormalities, and exhibited higher serum/cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) TRUST titer, CSF WBC count, CSF protein concentration (P < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that male sex, age ≥45 years and CSF TRUST titer were risk factors for SNS [odds ratio (OR) = 7.946,P = 0.001;OR = 3.757, P = 0.041; OR = 2.713, P = 0.002; respectively]. The brain MRI findings of 78 patients without comorbidities showed that ischemic infarct lesions presented in 17/37 (45.95%) of patients with ANS; infarct ischemic stroke (73.17%) especially multiple cerebral infractions (46.34%), cerebral atrophy (48.78%) were also common presentations in the SNS group.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with HIV-negative ANS and SNS presented different clinical, laboratory and brain MRI features. Male sex, age ≥45 years and elevated CSF TRUST titer may have an increased risk of developing neurological symptoms. Brain MRI abnormalities may present prior to clinical symptoms. Multiple cerebral infarctions without explained reasons or cerebral atrophy should alert clinicians the possibility of SNS.

Syphilis among men who have sex with men attending a large HIV clinic in Trinidad

A chart review study was conducted to determine the prevalence of syphilis and explore the associated risk factors among men who have sex with men (MSM) who attended a large HIV clinic in Trinidad during the period January-December 2019. Patients were routinely screened for syphilis annually, and demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were extracted from the medical records. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed, and factors significantly associated with a syphilis diagnosis were assessed using multivariate logistic regression. During the period, 218 MSM were seen, age range 19-67 years, and median age 34.0 years. The prevalence of syphilis was 41.3% (90/218), and 71.1% (64//90) of these infections were asymptomatic. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression showed that MSM living with HIV in the 30-34 years old-age group (OR, 4.32; 95% CI, 1.04-18.02), and those with a previous history of treated syphilis (OR, 10.18; 95% CI, 4.60-22.53) were more likely to be diagnosed with syphilis. The prevalence of syphilis is high among MSM attending the HIV clinic in Trinidad, and most of these infections were asymptomatic; hence, targeted and sustained interventions to reduce syphilis transmission are urgently required. Repeat episodes of syphilis may play a role in the transmission dynamics of syphilis in MSM.

Increased repeat syphilis among HIV-infected patients: A nationwide population-based cohort study in Taiwan

Among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals, syphilis is an important sexually transmitted infection (STI), and repeat infections are common. Identifying risk factors for delineating the trends in repeat syphilis are essential for STI and HIV prevention.This study is to investigate the dynamic of the syphilis epidemic among HIV-infected patients and to identify the risk factors associated with repeat syphilis.A population-based cohort design was used to analyze claim data between January 2000 and December 2010 using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. The Poisson regression test was used to identify risk factors for repeat syphilis.Of 13,239 HIV-infected patients, annual syphilis screen tests have been performed in 4,907 (37.1%) of these patients. Syphilis has been diagnosed in 956 (19.5%) patients, and 524 (10.7%) had repeat syphilis. The annual trend in repeat syphilis showed a significant increase in the study period (β = 0.23, P < .001). Younger age (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] 1.43; 95% CI 1.11-1.86), male gender (aIRR 11.14, 95% CI 4.16-29.79), a history of STIs (aIRR 1.39, 95% CI 1.21-1.59) were independently associated with repeat syphilis. The retention in HIV care and adherence to antiretroviral therapy ≥85% ([aIRR] 0.77, 95% CI 0.61-0.98; P < .001) were associated with a reduced risk of repeat syphilis.The incidence of repeat syphilis increased during 11 years of follow-up. The screening of syphilis for early diagnosis and retention in HIV care with medication adherence should be encouraged to minimize the risk of repeat syphilis in the targeted population.

Barriers to syphilis testing among men who have sex with men: a systematic review of the literature

Men who have sex with men (MSM) represent the highest risk group for syphilis in the United States and several other countries. Improving uptake of syphilis testing among MSM requires understanding key barriers to testing in this population. Using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic review to assess proportions of syphilis testing among MSM and identify social, structural, and individual barriers to syphilis testing was conducted. All searches were conducted through the University of Maryland world catalogue search engine. Studies that measured syphilis testing in a sample of MSM were included. All studies were assessed for bias using JBI-MAStARI instruments. Studies were synthesised based on sample size, years of data collection, study selection method (e.g. hospital or clinic-based, community/venue-based), location (e.g. USA-based, other countries) and results of the bias assessment. For studies measuring barriers associated with testing, the measure of association, point estimate and statistical significance was assessed. Of 848 studies found in the initial search, 24 were included in the final review. The largest difference in syphilis testing proportions was based on hospital or clinic-based sampling (50-87%) compared with venue/community-based and online sampling (31-38%). Socioeconomic factors (four items, four studies, OR 0.23 to 0.68), healthcare interactions six items, five studies, OR 0.09 to 0.69) and community/interpersonal factors (seven items, five studies, OR 0.07 to 0.58) were identified as barriers to testing. Barriers to syphilis testing among MSM include socioeconomic factors, healthcare-related factors and community/interpersonal factors. Improving overall routine utilisation of healthcare services is an especially important focal point in testing promotion.

Incidence of syphilis among HIV-infected men in Singapore, 2006-2017: temporal trends and associated risk factors

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.

Epidemiological Features and Risk Factors for Acquiring Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Syphilis in HIV-Infected Patients in Shaanxi Province, Northwest China

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients are at a higher risk for co-infection with Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Treponema pallidum (TP; the agent causing syphilis) than the general population. The prevalence of HBV, HCV, and syphilis has geographic differences and varies from region to region among HIV-positive individuals. A retrospective study was carried out on HIV-positive individuals between June 2011 and June 2016 in Shaanxi Province. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses using stepwise regression analysis regarding risk factors for HIV–HBV, HIV–HCV, and HIV–syphilis co-infection. HBV–HCV, HCV–syphilis, HBV–syphilis, and HBV–HCV–syphilis co-infection rates were 1.7%, 2.2%, 2.6%, and 0.1%, respectively. The rate of ineffective hepatitis B vaccine immunization was as high as 30.2% among HIV-positive individuals. Ethnicity (OR = 31.030, 95% CI: 11.643–82.694) and HIV transmission routes (OR = 134.024, 95% CI: 14.328–1253.653) were the risk factors for HCV infection in HIV-positive individuals. Among the HIV-positive individuals with the antibodies of TP, the rate of homosexual transmission was also higher, but heterosexual transmission was lower (OR = 0.549 95% CI: 0.382–0.789) The HIV-infected patients in Shaanxi Province had the characteristics of low active detection rate and late diagnosis. The high rate of ineffective vaccination against HBV suggests a need for improved vaccination services.

Syphilis seroprevalence among HIV-infected males in Istanbul, Turkey

Syphilis has become a serious issue for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients worldwide in recent years; however, the studies related to HIV coinfection and syphilis reinfections in Istanbul, Turkey, are limited. Our objective was to determine the seroprevalence of syphilis among HIV-infected men in the city which has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in Turkey. Two hundred and forty four (244) HIV-positive men were evaluated at Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Medical Microbiology from March to June 2018. Serum samples were screened for the presence of antibodies against Treponema pallidum using the chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA). Samples found to be positive were investigated with the rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test and the T. pallidum hemagglutination assay (TPHA). The patients completed a questionnaire for sociodemographic data. The mean age was found to be 41.8 years; 35.6% were men who have sex with men (MSM). The overall seroprevalence of syphilis among the patients was 19.3%. MSM had a significantly higher seroprevalence than heterosexual patients (28.7%). In Turkey, there is a high seroprevalence of syphilis in HIV-infected patients, MSM being the most affected group. Therefore, HIV-infected patients should be screened for syphilis at least annually and should be informed about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Estimating the syphilis incidence and diagnosis rate in Japan: a mathematical modelling study

OBJECTIVES

The reported number of syphilis cases is increasing in Japan. In this study, we aimed to estimate both the incidence of infection and diagnosis-and-reporting rate using a mathematical model that captures the time course of infection.

METHODS

We analysed yearly notification data from 1961 to 2016 and stratified according to clinical stage and sex. We built a compartmental ordinary differential equations model to describe the natural epidemiological course of syphilis in which the incidence of infection and diagnosis-and-reporting rate were included as time-varying parameters that we estimated via the maximum likelihood method.

RESULTS

From 2008 to 2016, the estimated number of new syphilis cases among men and women was 1070 (95% CI 1037 to 1104) and 302 (95% CI 287 to 318), respectively, which was increased from the previous period (1999-2007) with 269 (95% CI 256 to 282) and 71 (95% CI 64 to 78) cases, respectively. The diagnosis-and-reporting rate did not vary greatly over time. We estimated the number of undiagnosed syphilis cases from either incubating or early clinical (ie, primary or secondary) infections in 2016 to be 262 (95% CI 249 to 275) and 79 (95% CI 74 to 84) for men and women, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The recent increase in reported cases of syphilis is owing to an increase in the number of infections. We found no evidence of time-dependent improvement in detection or reporting.

Sero-epidemiology and risk factors of syphilis in Makassar, Indonesia

Introduction. Syphilis is an infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum spirochete and is mainly transmitted by sexual contact. Syphilis has the potential to cause serious complications and is closely related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection thus making syphilis still a major public health problem. In Indonesia, surveys of high-risk populations in 2007 and 2011 reported an increase in the prevalence of syphilis, especially in men who have sexual relationships with other men (MSM). Moreover, studies have described risk factors for HIV transmission including MSM, heterosexual contacts, Intravenous (IV) drug use, and infected partners.

Objectives. To assess the epidemiological aspects and risk factors for syphilis in Makassar, as well as the correlation with a coinfection of other sexually transmitted infections.

Material and Methods. This study is a multi-centre cross-sectional descriptive study with consecutive sampling. We evaluated cases for eligibility by confirming the diagnosis based on the serological result using rapid plasma reagin assay (RPR), Treponema pallidum haemagglutination (TPHA), and HIV screening kit. The cases were analyzed based on epidemiological features, risk factors and clinical findings, co-infection with other sexually transmitted infection (ST), and stadium of the disease.

Results. A total of 79 serologically confirmed syphilis cases were collected between January 2017 and December 2018 in Makassar, the capital city of South Sulawesi province in Indonesia. Of the 63 male subjects (79.7%), 38 (48.1%) were homosexual/MSM, and in 41 cases of HIV-infected subjects, 25 (60.9%) of them were also MSM.

Conclusion. Our study showed there was a significant correlation between syphilis and an increased risk of HIV transmission in MSM groups. The higher number of cases of syphilis and HIV co-infection among MSM can increase transmission of both infections and should be considered a major risk factor for syphilis in Makassar.

Risk factors of syphilis co-infection among HIVinfected men who have sex with men in Tel-Aviv, Israel

Syphilis incidence in Israel and other industrialized countries has increased in the past decade, mainly among men who have sex with men (MSM) who were co-infected with HIV. This study aimed to assess the demographic characteristics and behavioral risk factors for syphilis infection among HIV-infected MSM in the Tel-Aviv region, Israel. This cross-sectional study compared HIV-infected MSM who were co-infected with syphilis since 2005 with HIV-infected MSM without syphilis, using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire distributed at the AIDS treatment clinic in central Israel in 2016. This study included 75 HIV-infected MSM who were diagnosed with syphilis after their HIV diagnosis and 99 HIV-infected MSM without syphilis. Variables associated with syphilis infection included inadequate adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) (OR = 1.8 [1.2-2.4]), frequent unprotected receptive anal intercourse (UAI) with casual sex partners (OR = 2.2 [1.5-8.2]), especially with HIV-infected partner (OR = 3.2 [1.1-7.9]). In conclusion, HIV and syphilis co-infection were associated with frequent UAI with casual sex partners, inadequate adherence to ART and limited partner notification. In order to minimize syphilis transmission among HIV-infected MSM, AIDS clinics should encourage HIV-infected MSM to use condoms, ensure that patients perform periodic syphilis serology testing and improve partner notifications.

Risk Factors and Incidence of Syphilis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Infected Persons: The HIV Outpatient Study, 1999-2015

Background

Since 2000, the incidence of syphilis has been increasing, especially among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. We assessed temporal trends and associated risk factors for newly diagnosed syphilis infections among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients during a 16-year period.

Methods

We analyzed data from the HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS) cohort participants at 10 US HIV clinics during 1999-2015. New syphilis cases were defined based on laboratory parameters and clinical diagnoses. We performed Cox proportional hazards regression analyses of sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral risk factors for new syphilis infections.

Results

We studied 6888 HIV-infected participants; 641 had 1 or more new syphilis diagnoses during a median follow-up of 5.2 years. Most participants were male (78%), aged 31-50 years, and 57% were MSM. The overall incidence was 1.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-1.9) per 100 person-years (PY) and it increased from 0.4 (95% CI, .2-.8) to 2.2 (95% CI, 1.4-3.5) per 100 PY during 1999-2015. In multivariable analyses adjusting for calendar year, risk factors for syphilis included age 18-30 years (hazard ratio [HR], 1.3 [95% CI, 1.1-1.6]) vs 31-40 years, being MSM (HR, 3.1 [95% CI, 2.4-4.1]) vs heterosexual male, and being non-Hispanic black (HR, 1.6 [95% CI, 1.4-1.9]) vs non-Hispanic white.

Conclusions

The increases in the syphilis incidence rate through 2015 reflect ongoing sexual risk and highlight the need for enhanced prevention interventions among HIV-infected patients in care.

'I'm more aware of my HIV risk than anything else': syndemics of syphilis and HIV among gay men in Winnipeg

Despite decreased rates of HIV infection in Winnipeg, syphilis incidence continues to rise. Communities of men who have sex with men shoulder much of this burden of illness. This qualitative study aimed to better understand the co-evolution of HIV and syphilis in Winnipeg through a series of interviews with gay men. Eighteen individuals were recruited through advertising in sexual health centres and through subsequent snowball sampling. Thematic interpretive analysis and inductive reasoning were used to find individual and shared group meanings. We found that HIV formed the contextual ground on which sexual decision-making was made, with three main themes emerging during interviews: 1) bacterial STI transience being contrasted against HIV permanence; 2) syphilis being 'dirty' versus HIV carrying significant stigma, though being spared the label of uncleanliness; and 3) the role of pleasure and intimacy in sexual health decision-making. Based on these findings, we recommend further exploration to develop more effective strategies around syphilis prevention, in particular with regards to the longer-term illness ramifications and its relationship to HIV transmission.

A retrospective study of the clinical features of new syphilis infections in an HIV-positive cohort in Alberta, Canada

OBJECTIVES

Syphilis is a global health concern with an estimated 12 million infections occurring annually. Due to the increasing rates of new syphilis infections being reported in patients infected with HIV, and their higher risk for atypical and severe presentations, periodic screening has been recommended as a routine component of HIV care. We aimed to characterise incident syphilis presentation, serological features and treatment response in a well-defined, HIV-infected population over 11 years.

METHODS

Since 2006, as routine practice of both the Southern Alberta Clinic and Calgary STI programmes, syphilis screening has accompanied HIV viral load measures every 4 months. All records of patients who, while in HIV care, either converted from being syphilis seronegative to a confirmed seropositive or were reinfected as evidenced by a fourfold increase in rapid plasma reagin (RPR) after past successful treatment, were reviewed.

RESULTS

We identified 249 incident syphilis infections in 194 different individuals infected with HIV; 72% were initial infections whereas 28% were reinfections. Half (50.8%) of the infections were asymptomatic and identified only by routine screening. Symptomatic syphilis was more common when RPR titres were higher (p=0.03). In patients with recurrent syphilis infection, a trend was noted favouring symptomatic presentation (62%, p=0.07). All 10 patients with central nervous system (CNS) syphilis involvement presented with an RPR titre ≥1:32. Following syphilis infection, a decline of 42 cells/mm3 in CD4 (p=0.004) was found, but no significant changes in viral load occurred. No association was found with the stage of syphilis or symptoms at presentation and antiretroviral therapy use, CD4 count or virological suppression.

CONCLUSION

Routine screening of our HIV-infected population identified many asymptomatic syphilis infections. The interaction of HIV and syphilis infection appears to be bidirectional with effects noted on both HIV and syphilis clinical and serological markers.

The clinical and laboratory features of neurosyphilis in HIV-infected patients: A retrospective study in 92 patients

Neurosyphilis (NS) is an important component of central nervous system diseases among HIV-infected patients. However, its characteristics are not very clear. A retrospective analysis of clinical and laboratory findings was performed in 92 NS patients with HIV infection from a tertiary hospital in Shanghai, China. The patients had a median age of 38 years and a median CD4 count of 198 cells/μL. In all, 44.6% (41/92) were diagnosed as asymptomatic NS (ANS), 23.9% (22/92) as syphilitic meningitis, 17.4% (16/92) as cerebrovascular NS, and 14.1% (13/92) as parenchymal syphilis. A quarter of patients (23/92) complicated with ocular syphilis (OS), 60.9% (14/23) of which were ANS. The serum tolulized red unheated serum test (TRUST) titers were ≤1:8 in 15 patients (16.3%), 1:16-1:128 in 51 patients (55.4%), and ≥1:256 in 26 patients (28.3%). Sixty-nine patients (75.0%) had both cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) TRUST and Treponema pallidum particle assay reactive. CSF pleocytosis and protein elevation were found in 58.7% and 53.3% of patients, respectively. Syphilitic meningitis was more likely to present with CSF pleocytosis than ANS (P = .001), cerebrovascular NS (P < .001), and parenchymal NS (P < .001). The proportion of patients with CSF elevated protein was lower in ANS group than that in syphilitic meningitis (P = .003), cerebrovascular NS (P = .001), and parenchymal NS groups (P = .025), and was higher in sero-TRUST titers ≤1:8 group than that in 1:16-1:128 (P = .01) and 1:256-1:1024 groups (P = .005).This study revealed that ANS was the most common clinical type of NS in HIV-infected patients, which should be considered in HIV and syphilis co-infection patients without neurologic symptoms, especially in those with OS. Different patterns of NS might have different CSF features which may also vary with sero-TRUST titers.

Increase in sexually transmitted infections in a cohort of outpatient HIV-positive men who have sex with men in the Parisian region

OBJECTIVE

To describe the increased incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in a cohort of HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM), followed in a tertiary hospital of the Île-de-France region.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a monocentric, retrospective, and prospective study. We included symptomatic HIV-infected MSM patients who consulted for their annual consultation.

RESULTS

One hundred and eighty patients were seen between 2008-2011 and 215 between 2012-2015. We observed an increased incidence of STIs between the two periods (14 and 29.3%, respectively). These STIs includes: syphilis, hepatitis C, urethritis, and proctitis due to Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhea.

CONCLUSION

A better management of symptomatic and asymptomatic STIs is needed for HIV-infected MSM patients.

Evaluation of the Lumipulse G TP-N Chemiluminescent Immunoassay as a Syphilis Screening Test

A syphilis diagnosis is often aided by the detection of treponemal and nontreponemal antibodies. Automated treponemal antibody detection systems enable high-volume clinical laboratories to perform syphilis screening at a faster pace with lower labor costs. The Lumipulse G TP-N chemiluminescent immunoassay is an automated system that qualitatively detects IgG and IgM antibodies against Treponema pallidum antigens in human serum and plasma. To assess performance characteristics and workflow efficiency, the Lumipulse G TP-N assay was compared to the Bioplex 2200 Syphilis IgG multiplex flow immunoassay. Among the 4,134 routine and HIV samples tested by the two automated assays, the percentage of agreement was excellent at 99.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 98.6% to 99.2%; κ, 0.89), with the Lumipulse G TP-N having a shorter time to first and subsequent results. All specimens with reactive syphilis screening results were further tested by rapid plasma reagin (RPR) and Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TP·PA) testing (n = 231). The results from the RPR-reactive samples (n = 82) showed complete concordance with the two automated assays, while the TP·PA assay displayed some discrepancies. The positive percent agreement (PPA) and negative percent agreement (NPA) between the TP·PA test and the Lumipulse G TP-N test were 98.9% and 77.3%, respectively. The Bioplex 2200 Syphilis IgG immunoassay displayed a similar PPA (100%) but a substantially lower NPA (15.9%). Patient chart reviews of discrepant results suggested that the Lumipulse G TP-N assay produced 27 fewer falsely reactive results and can reduce the amount of additional confirmatory RPR and TP·PA testing needed. The analogous performance characteristics of the two automated systems indicate that the Lumipulse G TP-N assay is suitable for high-throughput syphilis screening.

Factors associated with syphilis incidence in the HIV-infected in the era of highly active antiretrovirals

After several years of steady decline, syphilis is reemerging globally as a public health hazard, especially among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Syphilis resurgence is observed mainly in men who have sex with men (MSM), yet other transmission groups are affected too. In this manuscript, we study the factors associated with syphilis incidence in the Swiss HIV cohort study in the era of highly effective antiretrovirals. Using parametric interval censored models with fixed and time-varying covariates, we studied the immunological, behavioral, and treatment-related elements associated with syphilis incidence in 3 transmission groups: MSM, heterosexuals, and intravenous drug users. Syphilis incidence has been increasing annually since 2005, with up to 74 incident cases per 1000 person-years in 2013, with MSM being the population with the highest burden (92% of cases). While antiretroviral treatment (ART) in general did not affect syphilis incidence, nevirapine (NVP) was associated with a lower hazard of syphilis incidence (multivariable hazard ratio 0.5, 95% confidence interval 0.2-1.0). We observed that condomless sex and younger age were associated with higher syphilis incidence. Moreover, time-updated CD4, nadir CD4, and CD8 cell counts were not associated with syphilis incidence. Finally, testing frequency higher than the recommended once a year routine testing was associated with a 2-fold higher risk of acquiring syphilis. Condomless sex is the main driver of syphilis resurgence in the Swiss HIV Cohort study; ART and immune reconstitution provide no protection against syphilis. This entails targeted interventions and frequent screening of high-risk populations. There is no known effect of NVP on syphilis; therefore, further clinical, epidemiological, and microbiological investigation is necessary to validate our observation.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Incident Syphilis among HIV-1-Infected Men Who Have Sex with Men in a Large Urban HIV Clinic in Tokyo, 2008-2015

Background

The epidemiology of incident syphilis infection among HIV-1-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) largely remains unknown.

Methods

The incidence and risk factors for incident syphilis (positive TPHA and RPR> = 1:8) among HIV-1-infected MSM who visited a large HIV clinic in Tokyo for the first time between 2008 and 2013 were determined, using clinical data and stored blood samples taken every three months for screening and determination of the date of incident syphilis. Poisson regression compared the incidence of syphilis at different observation periods.

Results

Of 885 HIV-1-infected MSM with baseline data, 34% either presented with active syphilis at baseline (21%) or became infected with syphilis during follow-up (13%). After excluding 214 patients (MSM with syphilis at baseline (n = 190) and no follow-up syphilis test (n = 24)), of 671 men, 112 (17%) developed incident syphilis with an incidence of 43.7/1,000 person-years [95% CI, 36.5–52.3]. The incidence decreased slightly during observation period although the trend was not significant (2008–2009: 48.2/1,000 person-years, 2010–2011: 51.1/1,000 person-years, 2012–2013: 42.6/1,000 person-years, 2014 to 2015: 37.9/1,000 person-years, p = 0.315). Multivariable analysis identified young age (<33 years versus >40, HR 4.0, 95%CI 2.22–7.18, p<0.001), history of syphilis at baseline (HR 3.0, 95%CI 2.03–4.47, p<0.001), positive anti-amoeba antibody (HR 1.8, 95%CI 1.17–2.68, p = 0.006), and high baseline CD4 count (CD4 ≥350 /μL versus CD4 <200, HR 1.6, 95%CI 1.00–2.53, p = 0.050) as risk factors for incident syphilis. Incidence of syphilis was particularly high among young patients (age <33 years: 60.1/1,000 person-years). Interestingly, 37% of patients with incident syphilis were asymptomatic.

Conclusions

Although incidence of syphilis did not increase during the observation period, it was high among HIV-1-infected MSM, especially among young HIV-1-infected MSM and those with history of syphilis, in Tokyo. Regular screening for syphilis needs to be strictly applied to this population.

Incidence of syphilis seroconversion among HIV-infected persons in Asia: results from the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database

INTRODUCTION

Outbreaks of syphilis have been described among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) in Western communities, whereas reports in Asian countries are limited. We aimed to characterize the incidence and temporal trends of syphilis among HIV-infected MSM compared with HIV-infected non-MSM in Asian countries.

METHODS

Patients enrolled in the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database cohort and with a negative non-treponemal test since enrolment were analyzed. Incidence of syphilis seroconversion, defined as a positive non-treponemal test after previously testing negative, was evaluated among patients at sites performing non-treponemal tests at least annually. Factors associated with syphilis seroconversion were investigated at sites doing non-treponemal testing in all new patients and subsequently testing routinely or when patients were suspected of having syphilis.

RESULTS

We included 1010 patients from five sites that performed non-treponemal tests in all new patients; those included had negative non-treponemal test results during enrolment and subsequent follow-ups. Among them, 657 patients were from three sites conducting regular non-treponemal testing. The incidence of syphilis seroconversion was 5.38/100 person-years (PY). Incidence was higher in MSM than non-MSM (7.64/100 PY vs. 2.44/100 PY, p<0.001). Among MSM, the incidence rate ratio (IRR) for every additional year from 2009 was 1.19 (p=0.051). MSM status (IRR 3.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.88-6.47), past syphilis diagnosis (IRR 5.15, 95% CI 3.69-7.17) and younger age (IRR 0.84 for every additional 10 years, 95% CI 0.706-0.997) were significantly associated with syphilis seroconversion.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed a higher incidence of syphilis seroconversion among HIV-infected MSM and a trend to increasing annual incidence. Regular screening for syphilis and targeted interventions to limit transmission are needed in this population.

Improvement of Sexually Transmitted Disease Screening Among HIV-Infected Men Who Have Sex With Men Through Implementation of a Standardized Sexual Risk Assessment Tool

BACKGROUND

Screening for gonorrhea (GC) and chlamydia (CT) and syphilis among HIV-positive (HIV+) men who have sex with men (MSM) is recommended at least annually. However, significant gaps in screening coverage exist. We conducted a quality improvement intervention to determine whether informing providers of preintervention screening rates and routinizing sexual risk assessment would improve sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening in a large HIV care clinic.

METHODS

In partnership with Kaiser Permanente Northern California, we developed and implemented a 10-item assessment addressing sexual and other behavioral risk factors among HIV+ MSM. We analyzed the proportion of patients screened for GC/CT and syphilis in a preintervention period (June 25-September 26, 2012) and during the intervention period (June 25-September 26, 2013).

RESULTS

Of 364 HIV+ MSM seen for care during the intervention period, 47.3% completed the sexual risk assessment. Improvements in GC/CT screening and syphilis screening were observed; when comparing the preintervention period with the intervention period, the proportion of HIV+ MSM receiving GC/CT screening increased by 26.8% (31.6%-40.1%, P = 0.01) at any anatomical site and by 45% (19.5%-28.3%, P = 0.003) at the pharyngeal site. Syphilis screening significantly increased by 18.8% (48.7%-58.0%, P = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall STD screening increases were observed after this intervention that included didactic training on the urgency of STD screening needs for HIV+ MSM, a presentation of preintervention clinic STD screening data, and the implementation of self-reported sexual risk assessment. Additional efforts are needed to determine feasible ways to accurately assess the appropriateness of STD screening and success of interventions to improve STD screening.

Early Syphilis Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in the US Pacific Northwest, 2008-2013: Clinical Management and Implications for Prevention

Substantial increases in syphilis during 2008-2013 were reported in the US Pacific Northwest state of Oregon, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). The authors aimed to characterize the ongoing epidemic and identify possible gaps in clinical management of early syphilis (primary, secondary, and latent syphilis ≤1 year) among MSM in Multnomah County, Oregon to inform public health efforts. Administrative databases were used to examine trends in case characteristics during 2008-2013. Medical records were abstracted for cases occurring in 2013 to assess diagnosis, treatment, and screening practices. Early syphilis among MSM increased from 21 cases in 2008 to 229 in 2013. The majority of cases occurred in HIV-infected patients (range: 55.6%-69.2%) diagnosed with secondary syphilis (range: 36.2%-52.4%). In 2013, 119 (51.9%) cases were diagnosed in public sector medical settings and 110 (48.0%) in private sector settings. Over 80% of HIV-infected patients with syphilis were in HIV care. Although treatment was adequate and timely among all providers, management differed by provider type. Among HIV-infected patients, a larger proportion diagnosed by public HIV providers than private providers were tested for syphilis at least once in the previous 12 months (89.6% vs. 40.0%; p < 0.001). The characteristics of MSM diagnosed with early syphilis in Multnomah County remained largely unchanged during 2008-2013. Syphilis control measures were well established, but early syphilis among MSM continued to increase. The results suggest a need to improve syphilis screening among private clinics, but few gaps in clinical management were identified.

Risky sexual networks and concentrated HIV epidemics among men who have sex with men in Wenzhou, China: a respondent-driven sampling study

Background

The high and continually increasing prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China underscores the critical importance of examining the exact sexual networks that result in HIV transmission, as well as HIV infection, using powerful sampling methods, such as respondent-driven sampling (RDS), to improve the sexual health of this population.

Methods

Using RDS, a cross-sectional study was conducted among MSM in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, China from December 2013 to June 2014. The type of sex, numbers of anal sex partners, male oral sex partners and vaginal sex partners, condom use during each type of sex over the previous 6 months, prevention behaviors, risk perception, and the burdens of HIV and syphilis were investigated and analyzed.

Results

Of 424 MSM, a great number of them did anal sex, male oral sex, and vaginal sex during the previous 6 months, and weighted estimates for the prevalence that MSM did not conduct these sexual behaviors were 11.2 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] =6.7–16.50 %), 20.3 % (95 % CI = 15.2–27.1 %), and 58.9 % (95 % CI = 52.1–65.8 %), respectively. Multiple sexual partners, engaging in regular, casual and commercial sex, and lack of condom use during all types of sex were common among MSM. The estimated HIV and syphilis prevalences were 22.8 % (95 % CI = 16.9–28.5 %) and 9.7 % (95 % CI = 6.4–13.6 %), respectively. Of the participants, 53.5 % (95 % CI = 45.3–60.2 %) received HIV-related interventions during the previous year, 48.1 % (95 % CI = 39.7–55.1 %) had never been tested for HIV, and only 14.1 % (95 % CI =10.1–19.2 %) perceived a risk of contracting HIV. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age over 44 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.60, 95 % CI = 1.34–9.64), a monthly income of 3001–4000 yuan (approximately 470–630 US$) (AOR = 1.96, 95 % CI = 1.67–3.60), multiple anal sex partners (AOR = 1.93, 95 % CI = 1.15–3.24), awareness of the possibility of contracting HIV (AOR = 3.18, 95 % CI = 1.56–6.48), and current syphilis infection (AOR = 3.01, 95 % CI = 1.44–6.29) were predictors of HIV infection.

Conclusions

HIV transmission has become highly prevalent and will likely become more prevalent among MSM and their female partners if these risky sexual networks persist. Our findings call for urgent and effective interventions to prevent the rapid transmission of HIV among MSM in Wenzhou.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-015-2591-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A Quality Improvement Project to Increase Early Detection of Syphilis Infection or Re-infection in HIV-infected Men Who Have Sex With Men

Our quality improvement project evaluated whether testing for syphilis every 3 to 6 months with routine HIV laboratory monitoring had an effect on early detection of asymptomatic syphilis infection/re-infection in HIV-infected men who have sex with men. Retrospective analysis of syphilis testing and infections in a sample of this population (N = 245) was conducted after establishing a change-of-practice quality improvement initiative in a not-for-profit, community-based, grant-funded clinic. We compared the clinic's annual rates of syphilis before and after intervention implementation. The detection rate was 6.6% in the preintervention practice change group and 15.5% in the postintervention group. Increased testing identified 27 syphilis cases that would not otherwise have been identified until the annual comprehensive examination. Increased testing frequency led to earlier detection of syphilis, which was clinically significant, showing a potential to decrease the number of new syphilis and HIV infections and to decrease health care expenditures.

High Prevalence and High Incidence of Coinfection with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Syphilis and Low Rate of Effective Vaccination against Hepatitis B in HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men with Known Date of HIV Seroconversion in Germany

Objectives

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at higher risk for coinfection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and syphilis than the general population. HIV infection and these coinfections accelerate disease progression reciprocally. This study evaluated the prevalence and incidence of these coinfections in HIV1-positive MSM in Germany.

Materials and Methods

As part of a nationwide, multicenter, prospective cohort study of HIV-infected MSM, plasma samples collected yearly were screened for HBsAg and antibodies to HBc, HBs, HCV, and syphilis. Samples with indications of active HBV or HCV infection were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Prevalence and incidence of each infection and incidence rates per study participant were calculated, and incidences over 4-year time intervals compared.

Results

This study screened 5,445 samples from 1,843 MSM. Median age at HIV seroconversion was 33 years. Prevalences of active, cleared, and occult HBV, and of active/cleared HCV were 1.7%, 27.1%, 0.2%, and 8.2%, respectively, and 47.5% had been effectively vaccinated against HBV. Prevalence of antibodies to Treponema pallidum and of triple or quadruple sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were 39.6% and 18.9%, respectively. Prevalence of STI, cleared HBV, HBV vaccination, and history of syphilis differed significantly among age groups. Incidences of HBV, HCV, and syphilis were 2.51, 1.54, and 4.06 per 100 person-years, respectively. Incidences of HCV and syphilis increased over time. HCV incidence was significantly higher in MSM coinfected with syphilis and living in Berlin, and syphilis incidence was significantly higher for MSM living in Berlin.

Discussion

Despite extensive HBV vaccination campaigns, fewer than 50% of screened MSM were effectively vaccinated, with a high proportion of HIV-positive MSM coinfected with HBV. High rates of STI coinfections in HIV-positive MSM and increasing incidences emphasize the need for better tailored campaigns for HBV vaccination and STI prevention.

Sexually transmitted infections associated with alcohol use and HIV infection among men who have sex with men in Kampala, Uganda

OBJECTIVES

Few studies have been conducted in Africa to assess prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and risk factors among men who have sex with men (MSM). We report findings from the first behavioural survey to include STI testing among MSM in Kampala, Uganda.

METHODS

Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) was used to recruit MSM for a biobehavioural survey. Eligible participants were men who reported anal sex with another man in the previous 3 months, were 18 years or older, and resided in Kampala. Information was collected on demographics, sexual behaviour, alcohol and drug use, and STI symptoms. Blood, urine and rectal specimens were tested for syphilis, HIV, rectal and urethral gonorrhoea, and chlamydia. Analyses weighted for RDS were conducted to assess associations with STI diagnosis.

RESULTS

A total of 295 MSM participated in the survey. Almost half (weighted percentage: 47.3%) reported STI symptoms in the last 6 months and 12.9% tested HIV-positive. Prevalence of non-HIV STI was 13.5%; syphilis prevalence was 9.0%. Adjusting for age and education, STI was associated with HIV (adjusted OR (AOR)=3.46, 95% CI 1.03 to 11.64), alcohol use before sex (AOR=4.99, 95% CI 1.86 to 13.38) and having sold sex in the last 3 months (AOR=3.17, 95% CI 1.25 to 8.07), and inversely associated with having anonymous sex partners (AOR=0.20, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.61).

CONCLUSIONS

We observed high levels of self-reported STI symptoms and STI prevalence associated with alcohol use and HIV among MSM in Kampala. Public health interventions supporting MSM are needed to address STI risk and facilitate access to diagnosis and treatment services.

High incidence of diagnosis with syphilis co-infection among men who have sex with men in an HIV cohort in Ontario, Canada

BACKGROUND

The re-emergence of syphilis among HIV-positive gay and other men who have sex with men (MSM) requires vigilance. We estimated incidence of and risk factors for first and subsequent syphilis diagnoses among MSM in HIV care in Ontario, Canada.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 2,280 MSM under follow-up from 2006 to 2010 in the Ontario HIV Treatment Network Cohort Study (OCS), a multi-site clinical cohort. We obtained syphilis serology results via record linkage with the provincial public health laboratory. Rates were calculated using Poisson regression.

RESULTS

First syphilis diagnoses occurred at a rate of 2.0 per 100 person-years (95 % CI 1.7, 2.4; 121 cases) whereas the re-diagnosis rate was 7.5 per 100 person-years (95 % CI 6.3, 8.8; 136 cases). We observed higher rates over time and among men who were aged <30 years, receiving care in the two largest urban centers, or had a previous syphilis diagnosis. Syphilis diagnosis was less common among Indigenous men, men with higher CD4 cell counts, and, for first diagnoses only, among men with less than high school education.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to reported cases in the general male population, incidence of a new syphilis diagnosis was over 300 times greater among HIV-positive MSM but year-to-year changes reflected provincial trends. Re-diagnosis was common, suggesting treatment failure or re-infection. Novel syphilis control efforts are needed among HIV-positive MSM.

Emerging trends and persistent challenges in the management of adult syphilis

There are an estimated 10.6 million incident cases of syphilis worldwide each year. We highlight some persistent challenges and emerging trends in the clinical management of syphilis with a particular focus on therapy, serology, diagnostics, and prevention. Decades after the introduction of penicillin, the optimal management of early syphilis continues to be a controversial topic, particularly in the setting of HIV co-infection. Similarly, the need for routine lumbar puncture in HIV co-infected asymptomatic persons is an unanswered question. Despite advances in both automation and point-of-care diagnostics, we continue to rely on indirect measures of disease activity to manage this infection. As syphilis rates in some populations continue to rise, novel and effective prevention strategies are needed.

Clinical Aspects of Syphilis Reinfection in HIV-Infected Patients

BACKGROUND

The incidence of HIV-syphilis co-infection has risen since 2000, especially among men having sex with men (MSM). Syphilis reinfection can occur, but the clinical features of such events remain poorly characterized.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the cutaneous lesions seen with syphilis reinfections with those of first episodes in HIV-infected patients.

METHODS

In a cohort of HIV-infected patients, syphilis reinfection was established both clinically and biologically by evaluating changes in Venereal Disease Research Laboratory titers. Photographs and medical records were studied in order to determine the type of skin lesions and their quantification.

RESULTS

Among 533 HIV-infected patients, 42 (8%) experienced a first syphilis infection. Thirteen episodes of reinfection occurred in 12/42 (28%) patients, all MSM. In 78% of cases, reinfections were less symptomatic than first episodes. All patients presented classical syphilis lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed a high rate of reinfection, but with less severe skin manifestations during reinfection episodes.

Sexual Practices and the Prevalence of HIV and Syphilis among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Lanzhou, China

We aimed to assess the risk of infections caused by sexual practices and determine the factors affecting the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Lanzhou, China. A survey including 600 MSM was conducted from March 2008 to December 2009. Demographic and sexual behavior data were collected using the snowball sampling technology, and blood samples were obtained. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine the predictors of HIV and syphilis infection. The seroprevalence of HIV, syphilis, HCV, and co-infection of HIV with syphilis was 6.0%, 18.0%, 1.3%, and 2.5%, respectively. Use of condoms was more inconsistent in vaginal sex than that in anal sex, buying sex or selling sex. Multivariate analysis showed that MSM with syphilis infection, MSM from other provinces, and MSM of Han ethnicity were more likely to have HIV infection. Further, MSM with HIV infection, inconsistent condom use, and less knowledge about AIDS prevention were more likely to have syphilis infection. Their social background, habit of condom use, and infection status may affect the prevalence of HIV or syphilis. These findings may have important implications for further behavioral interventions among this population.

Acceptable interventions to reduce syphilis transmission among high-risk men who have sex with men in Los Angeles

OBJECTIVES

We examined perceptions of and attitudes toward existing and potential syphilis interventions, including case management and Web-based programs, to increase syphilis testing among high-risk men who have sex with men (MSM).

METHODS

Between October 2010 and June 2011, we conducted in-depth interviews with 19 MSM in Los Angeles, California, with repeat early syphilis infections (primary, secondary, and early latent syphilis) within the previous 5 years. We analyzed the interviews inductively to determine the most acceptable potential interventions.

RESULTS

Experiences with health department and community-based standard of care case management were generally positive. The most popular interventions among respondents included a Web site providing information on syphilis and syphilis testing, automated Web reminders to test, being paid to test, free online home testing kits, and preexposure prophylactic medication. Respondents' beliefs that they would continue to practice high-risk sexual behaviors reinforced their reasons for wanting increased accessibility and convenient testing strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

Public health officials should consider participant responses to potential interventions for syphilis, which suggest that high-risk MSM would consider testing more often or using other interventions.

Risk factors associated with prevalent and incident syphilis among an HIV-infected cohort in Northeast China

Background

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) increase HIV infectivity through local inflammatory processes. Prevalent and incident STIs among people who live with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are indicators of high-risk sexual behaviors and imply potential spread of HIV. Little is known about the prevalence and incidence of concurrent syphilis and associated risk behaviors among PLWHA in China.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted among PLWHA who attended the outpatient clinic of a designated AIDS treatment hospital in Shenyang, China, between March 2009 and May 2013. Physical examinations and syphilis serology were conducted at each visit. A questionnaire on demographic characteristics was also collected.

Results

A total of 1010 PLWHA were enrolled, of whom 77.0% were men who have sex with men (MSM). The baseline syphilis prevalence among PLWHA was 19.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]:17.3–22.3%). During follow-up, 78.3% retained in the cohort, and contributed a median follow-up of 9.4 months (interquartile range: 5.9-18.7 months). Syphilis incidence among PLWHA was 18.7 (95% CI: 15.5–21.8) per 100 person years. Mulitvariate logistic analysis showed that receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) (adjusted OR [aOR] = 0.48), older age (≥40 years vs. ≤24 years, aOR = 2.43), being MSM (aOR = 2.30) and having higher baseline HIV viral load (>100000 copies/mL vs. ≤100000 copies/mL, aOR = 1.56) were independent predictors for syphilis infection among PLWHA at enrollment (p < 0.05 for all). Mulivariate Cox regression found that receiving ART (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.81), older age (≥40 years vs. ≤24 years, aHR: 5.17) and MSM status (aHR = 2.68) were independent risk factors for syphilis seroconversion (each p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Syphilis prevalence and incidence were high among PLWHA in Shenyang. A campaign focusing on detection and treatment of syphilis among PLWHA is urgently needed, especially one with a focus on MSM who are at a higher risk for syphilis.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12879-014-0658-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Syphilis reinfections pose problems for syphilis diagnosis in Antwerp, Belgium - 1992 to 2012

Persons with multiple syphilis reinfections may play an important role in syphilis transmission. We analysed all syphilis tests carried out for people attending the HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic at the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium, from 1992 to 2012 to evaluate the extent to which syphilis reinfections were contributing to the syphilis epidemic in Antwerp. We then characterised the features of the syphilis infections in individuals with five or more episodes of syphilis. A total of 729 syphilis episodes were diagnosed in 454 persons. The majority of syphilis episodes occurred in people who had more than one episode of syphilis (445/729; 61%). A total of 10 individuals had five or more episodes of syphilis diagnosed over this period. All were men who have sex with men, HIV positive and on antiretroviral therapy. They had a total of 52 episodes of syphilis diagnosed and treated. In 38/42 of the episodes of repeat syphilis in these 10 individuals, they presented without any signs or symptoms of syphilis. Given that the majority of cases of incident syphilis in our clinic were persons with reinfections and that they frequently presented without signs of symptoms of syphilis, there is a strong case for frequent and repeated screening in all persons with a diagnosis of syphilis.

Syphilis in the United States

Syphilis gained notoriety in the 1500s, when it became widespread throughout Europe. While the origins of syphilis are not certain, recent data have shown that it may have originated in the Americas from a close relative that causes Yaws (Treponema pallidum pertenue).(1) For the past 500years, the disease has shown its various faces all over the world. The 19th century saw an entire medical subspecialty-syphilology (sometimes known as syphilography)-devoted to the study of the great disease, then known as "the great imitator." Syphilis has an entire textbook of presentations and can mimic many other infections and immune-mediated processes. At the beginning of the 20th century, the many faces of the disease led to Sir William Osler's well-known aphorism, "The physician who knows syphilis knows medicine."(2) When penicillin was discovered, and used to treat syphilis in 1943, some thought that syphilis would go by the wayside, but syphilis continued what it has been doing for so many years . . . inconspicuously infecting humans. The United States has seen the incidence of syphilis increase numerous times throughout the past 70years. Every decrease in the incidence of syphilis is followed shortly by an increase. A marked shift in the epidemiology occurred from 1990 to 2000. In the 1990s, syphilis primarily occurred in heterosexual minority groups. In the new millennium, a majority of cases of syphilis are now transmitted among men who have sex with men (MSM).(3) This contribution discusses the incidence of syphilis in the United States and the reasons these trends continue.

Characteristics and risk of syphilis diagnosis among HIV-infected male cohort: a population-based study in Houston, Texas

BACKGROUND

This population-based study assessed the characteristics, timing, and risk of syphilis diagnoses among HIV-infected males in Houston, Texas.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort of males newly diagnosed as having HIV between January 2000 and December 2002 was constructed using HIV surveillance data. These individuals were cross-referenced to sexually transmitted disease surveillance data to ascertain early syphilis diagnoses for the subsequent 10 years. Multivariable Cox regression was used to identify risk factors for syphilis diagnosis while controlling for the effects of covariates.

RESULTS

Approximately 6% of the HIV-infected male cohort received early syphilis diagnoses during a 10-year period. Of these comorbid individuals, 40.8% received an incident syphilis diagnosis 5 years or more after their HIV diagnosis. Men who have sex with men (MSM) transmission risk was associated with significantly increased hazard of having a syphilis diagnosis in multivariable analysis (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] of a syphilis diagnosis, 5.24; 95% confidence interval, 3.41-8.05). Compared with men who were older than 40 years at HIV diagnosis, those 13 to 19 years old were 4.06 (2.18-7.55) times more likely to obtain a syphilis diagnosis. The HRs of having an HIV-syphilis comorbidity decreased as age increased. Compared with whites, non-Hispanic African Americans had 1.59 (1.11-2.26) times increased risk of having a subsequent syphilis diagnosis. Risk-stratified HRs showed that MSM had an increased risk of contracting syphilis in all race/ethnicity and age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that HIV-positive African Americans, youth, and MSM had increased risk of having a subsequent syphilis diagnosis. Targeting these groups with STI prevention messaging may be beneficial to reducing comorbidity.

High prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in HIV-infected men during routine outpatient visits in the Netherlands

BACKGROUND

In the Netherlands, no guidelines exist for routine sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected men having sex with men (MSM). We assessed prevalence and factors associated with asymptomatic STI.

METHODS

MSM visiting HIV outpatient clinics of academic hospitals were tested for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), syphilis, and hepatitis B and C infection. Prevalence and risk factors were studied using logistic regression.

RESULTS

In total, 659 MSM were included between 2007 and 2008. STI were found in 16.0% of patients, mostly anal CT and syphilis. One new hepatitis B and 3 new hepatitis C infections were identified. In multivariate analyses, any STI (syphilis, CT, or NG) was associated with patient's age below 40 years (odds ratio [OR]: 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3-5.0), having had sex with 2 or more sexual partners (OR 2.1, 95% CI: 1.2-3.5), the use of the same sexual toys with a sexual partner (OR 2.2, 95% CI: 1.0-4.9), and enema use before sex (OR: 2.3, 95% 1.2-4.2). Syphilis was independently associated with fisting with gloves versus no fisting (OR: 4.9, 95% CI: 1.7-13.7) and with rimming (OR: 5.0, 95% CI: 1.7-15.0). CT or NG were associated with age below 45 years (age 40-44 years: OR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.1-5.3; age <40 years: OR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.1-5.4), enema use before sex (OR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.3-4.4) and drug use during sex (OR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.4-4.0).

CONCLUSIONS

High-risk sexual behavior was very common, and 16% of HIV-infected MSM in HIV care had an asymptomatic STI, mostly anal CT and syphilis. Development of STI screening guidelines is recommended.

Diagnostic tests for syphilis: New tests and new algorithms

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by Treponema pallidum. A total of 13,106 cases of primary and secondary syphilis were reported in the United States in 2011 and the rate of infection has increased in subgroups, particularly men who have sex with men. The disease is mainly diagnosed through clinical findings and serologic testing. However, no single serologic test of syphilis is sufficient. Hence, the serologic diagnosis of syphilis requires the detection of 2 types of antibodies (nontreponemal antibodies and treponemal antibodies). The paradigm in syphilis testing has recently shifted in many centers to screen with a treponemal antibody test, reflexing to a nontreponemal test if the treponemal antibody test is positive. This reverse of the traditional algorithm may not be widely recognized among clinicians.

Syphilis and HIV co-infection in patients who attend an AIDS outpatient clinic in Vitoria, Brazil

Our goal was to determine the prevalence of, and risk factors associated with, syphilis in HIV-infected patients who attend an AIDS outpatient clinic in Vitoria, Brazil. We conducted a cross-sectional study-including interviews for demographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics-and blood collection (venipuncture and fingerstick) for VDRL and treponemal tests (rapid test) in a total of 438 patients. The mean age was 43.0 years (SD = 11), and mean years of school was 8.1 (SD = 4.2). The prevalence of syphilis was 5.3 % (95 % CI 3.3-7.3). The treponemal test was positive in 18.9 % of participants. In multivariate analysis, prevalent syphilis infection was independently associated with male gender (AOR 4.6, 95 % CI 1.1-20.0), a history of male-male sex (AOR 1.8, 95 % CI 1.6-4.1), current use of antiretroviral therapy (AOR 5.5, 95 % CI 1.7-16.7), and history of treated syphilis infection (AOR 5.5, 95 % CI 2.0-15.8). Syphilis prevalence was high in patients living with HIV/AIDS who attend an AIDS clinic; therefore, routine sexually transmitted infections counseling and screening should be included in their care.

Enhanced surveillance of infectious syphilis in New Zealand sexual health clinics

Following a rise in cases of infectious syphilis in New Zealand, national enhanced surveillance at sexual health clinics was initiated. All public sexual health clinics reported monthly on the number of cases seen, and completed a coded questionnaire on each case. Monthly reports to routine surveillance were compared and discrepancies reconciled. During 2011, 72 cases of infectious syphilis were reported. The majority (83%) were among men who have sex with men who were mainly infected in New Zealand and had an ethnic profile similar to all New Zealanders. Most heterosexual infections occurred overseas, among people of non-European non-Maori ethnicity. About half the cases had symptoms on presentation. Overall, 18% of men who have sex with men were HIV positive. Resurgent syphilis in New Zealand disproportionally affects men who have sex with men, amongst whom HIV is prevalent. Men who have sex with men should be aware of the risks and symptoms of syphilis and encouraged to have regular sexual health checks including serology testing. Control of syphilis should be included in the strategy to check HIV spread. Syphilis serology should continue to be part of routine immigration and antenatal screening, and where clinically indicated. Enhanced surveillance was easily initiated for an uncommon condition seen at sexual health clinics, and provided valuable information.

Automated, computer generated reminders and increased detection of gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis in men who have sex with men

BACKGROUND

Guidelines recommend frequent screening of men who have sex with men (MSM) for sexually transmissible infections (STIs) but few interventions have demonstrated increased testing and detection of bacterial STIs among MSM in controlled studies.

METHODS

We used automated text message and email reminders generated by computer assisted self-interview (CASI) to remind MSM to retest for syphilis. We compared clinic visits, STI testing and detection rates over 12 month between men receiving reminders (reminder group) and men not offered the reminders (concurrent control group).

RESULTS

Men who chose 3-monthly reminders had more clinic visits (median 3 vs 1) and higher testing rates for pharyngeal gonorrhoea (67.0% vs 33.6%), rectal gonorrhoea (62.7% vs 31.1%), urethral chlamydia (67.3% vs 39.3%), rectal chlamydia (62.9% vs 31.3%), syphilis (67.0% vs 39.3%) and HIV (64.9% vs 36.7%) (all p<0.001) than concurrent controls, within 12 months after their first visit. Also, men receiving reminders had a higher combined testing rate for all the aforementioned STIs at a same visit (55.7% vs 25.5%, p<0.001) compared with concurrent controls. This association remained after adjusting for differences in characteristics between the two groups (adjusted odds ratio:1.77, 95% confidence interval:1.51-2.08). Men receiving reminders also had a higher detection rate of: rectal gonorrhoea (3.7% vs 1.2%, p = 0.001), urethral chlamydia (3.1% vs 1.4%, p = 0.027), rectal chlamydia (6.6% vs 2.8%, p<0.001), and early, latent syphilis (1.7% vs 0.4%, p = 0.008) compared with concurrent controls.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to demonstate that a fully automated reminder system using CASI was associated with increased detection of bacterial STIs among MSM.