Silva MST, Torres TS, Coutinho C, Jalil EM, Yanavich C, Martins PS, Bastos MO, Mesquita MB, Echeverría-Guevara A, Nazer S, Peixoto EM, Terra M, Lovetro A, Reges PPS, Meneguetti MR, Moreira RI, Lessa FCS, Hoagland B, Nunes EP, Cardoso SW, Veloso VG, Grinsztejn B. Mpox, sexually transmitted infections and combination prevention: insights from a major cohort in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
AIDS 2024;
38:1845-1849. [PMID:
39120535 PMCID:
PMC11424052 DOI:
10.1097/qad.0000000000003991]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of concurrent bacterial sexually transmitted infections (bSTIs) among individuals with mpox.
DESIGN
Prospective cohort study of participants aged 18 years or older with confirmed mpox conducted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This cross-sectional analysis includes only participants who underwent bSTI testing at baseline between June 2022 and January 2024.
METHODS
Participants were offered testing for chlamydia/gonorrhea (NAAT, anorectal swabs) and syphilis (active diagnosis if VDRL ≥ 1/8). Baseline prevalence of bSTIs was calculated, and participant characteristics were described based on concomitant bSTI diagnosis (yes/no). Chi-squared/Fisher's tests were used for qualitative variables, and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test for quantitative variables.
RESULTS
Out of 634 enrolled participants, 538 (84.9%) were tested for STIs and included in this analysis, mostly cisgender men, aged 30-39 years with postsecondary education. Overall prevalence of concomitant bSTI was 37.3%, mainly syphilis, followed by chlamydia and gonorrhea. Half of the participants were living with HIV, and one third was on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis. Concomitant bSTI diagnosis at the time of mpox assessment was associated with being aged 30-39 years, self-identifying as cisgender men, having HIV-positive status, reporting proctitis symptoms and reporting any STI in the past 12 months.
CONCLUSIONS
Our data reveals a notable prevalence of concomitant bSTIs among participants with confirmed mpox at a prominent infectious diseases' referral center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These findings underscore the importance of integrating mpox into the differential diagnosis of anogenital manifestations and the promotion of combination prevention strategies within sexual healthcare services.
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