P5-S7.03 Syphilis screening for high-risk groups in a large-scale HIV prevention program in India: uptake and trends

Abstract

BackgroundAvahan, a large-scale HIV prevention program in India, provides syphilis screening as a part of its service package for high-risk groups (HRGs) including female sex workers, men who have sex with men (MSM) and injecting drug users through its targeted intervention clinics. The objective of this retrospective study was to understand the uptake and trends in reactivity patterns of syphilis screening tests at Avahan clinics from 2005 to 2009.MethodsSyphilis screening was done with either Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR test, provided on-site or through referrals to local laboratories) or a point-of-care immunochromatographic strip test (ICST) using whole blood. ICST was introduced to the program in 2007. The clinical records of the HRGs attending Avahan clinics in six high HIV prevalence states in India from January 2005 to December 2009 were collated in an “individual tracking sheet” database and analysed with STATA software version 10.ResultsThe overall proportion of clinic attendees screened for syphilis increased consistently during the study period from 2.6% in 2005 to 21% in 2009. The increasing trend in uptake and actual proportions were similar in all risk groups. The use of ICST as a screening test increased from 8% in 2007 to 70% in 2009 thus becoming the predominant screening method. During this period, the uptake of syphilis screening also increased from 9% in 2007 to 21% in 2009 see Abstract P5-S7.03 table 1. A declining trend was found with the overall syphilis sero-reactivity rates (ICST and RPR), from 7% in 2006 to 4% in 2009 and this decreasing trend was found in all risk groups. The proportion of active high-titre syphilis (>1:8) to all reactive RPR tests (any titre) declined from 61% in 2005 to 30% in 2009.Abstract P5-S7.03 Table 1Uptake of syphilis screening by RPR and ICSTYearTotal individuals attending clinics# Screened for syphilis (%)Proportion screened with RPR (%)Proportion screened with ICST (%)200543 3941112 (2.6%)10002006108 8365700 (5.2%)10002007169 61215 179 (8.9%)91.88.22008220 87728 502 (12.9%)60.139.92009286 99160 412 (21.1%)30.869.2ConclusionsThe improved uptake of syphilis screening has lead to improved detection and appropriate management of cases of latent syphilis. The results show that introduction of rapid point-of-care tests likely contributed to the improved uptake of syphilis screening. Rapid tests may be considered for syphilis screening at other resource-constrained primary care sites in India such as targeted intervention and ante-natal clinics.