Risk Factors For Syphilis Research Articles

Does being on HIV antiretroviral therapy increase the risk of syphilis? An analysis of a large national cohort of MSM living with HIV in England 2009–2016

ObjectiveA resurgence in bacterial STIs, notably syphilis, among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) has been detected in England. A Canadian modelling study postulated that...

Prevalence and Predictors of Syphilis in Female Sex Workers in Eastern China: Findings from Six Consecutive Cross-Sectional Surveys.

PurposeFemale sex workers play an important role in transmitting HIV and syphilis from high-risk groups to the general population. However, epidemic trends and risk factors for syphilis in Chinese female sex workers (FSWs) remain unclear.MethodsUsing convenient sampling methods, 2482 FSWs were interviewed and tested for syphilis from 2014 to 2019, all of them were divided into two groups of high-grade FSWs and low-grade FSWs according to service solicited and clients price there were. Demographic data were collected and logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for syphilis.Results43.67% of participants have received free condoms, 76.15% of them engaged in peer education of the 2482 FSWs tested for syphilis, 107 (4.31%) were positive. The prevalence of syphilis in high-grade FSWs was significantly lower than that in low-grade FSWs (3.14% and 5.62%, respectively).The overall prevalence of syphilis increased from 3.19% to4.47%. The percentage of FSWs received free condoms and engaged in peer education increased significantly. With upgraded awareness of syphilis, the number of FSWs having protected sex also increased significantly. It is also found that low-grade female sex workers are at greater risk of syphilis than those high-grade ones (odds ratio (OR) = 1.76, 95% CI 1.18–2.63, p < 0.05).ConclusionGreat awareness of syphilis and the increased utilization of condom did not reduce the prevalence of syphilis, especially in low-grade FSWs group. More effective integrated interventions should be developed for such populations.

Prevalence and risk factors of Syphilis among blood donors of Punjab, Pakistan

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease and its actual prevalence among Pakistani blood donors is currently unknown. A cross sectional study was conducted at different district healthcare hospitals of Punjab, Pakistan with an aim to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors associated with syphilis in blood donors using immunochromatographic test (ICT) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A total (n=1200) blood samples were collected from donors aged 18-65 years. All the information regarding personal data, demographic data and risk factors was collected via structured questionnaire. On the basis of ICT and ELISA, the overall prevalence of syphilis was 3.91% among blood donors. The demographic factors positively linked with syphilis were age (P= 0.000; Odds ratio, OR= 7.18; 95% confidence interval CI= 2.816-18.295) and education status (P= 0.000; Odds ratio, OR= 12.33; 95% confidence interval CI= 3.469-43.849) of donors. Similarly among the risk factors analyzed, marital status (P= 0.012; Odds ratio OR= 2.251; 95% confidence interval CI= 1.206- 4.202) and blood transfusion history (P= 0.030; Odds ratio OR= 1.981; 95% confidence interval CI= 1.083-3.623) were also strongly associated with syphilis. We emphasized the importance of promoting preventive measures for syphilis. The syphilis diagnosis should not be based on a single test. The present study indicates that higher prevalence is alarming for blood donors in Pakistan. Stringent donor screening is highly recommended to ensure maximum safe blood transfusion.

Поширеність сифілісу серед засуджених (аналіз сучасних наукових публікацій і власні дані)

Introduction. According to the WHO, the highest incidence of STIs / HIV-infection, including syphilis, is in prisons, which currently have more than 10 million people worldwide. The objective. To assess the current state of the spread of syphilitic infection in prisons in the context of a holistic view of sexually transmitted diseases, taking into account our own pilot studies on the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV, as well as risk factors infection. Materials and methods. The search was performed according to the recommendations of PRISMA 2008, 2021 (The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyzes). The data of own pilot studies of 160 prisoners (80 women and 80 men) from the key risk group for STIs / HIV-infection in Ukrainian prisons are also presented, as well as some social characteristics of convicts and risk factors for syphilis are analyzed. Results. It has been confirmed that convicts as a separate social group have an increased risk of syphilis infection in penitentiary institutions of the world. At the same time, the incidence is several times higher compared to the general population. According to pilot studies, 16.3% of the surveyed convicts were diagnosed with serological markers of Treponema pallidum, including women (12.5%) and men (20%), and markers of other STIs, namely Chlamydia trachomatis (women – 37.5%, men – 15%), Ureaplasma urealyticum (5 and 62% respectively), HSV­1 (97.5 and 95%), HSV­2 (72.5 and 50%), HCV (25 and 47.5%), HBV (12.5 and 7.5%), HIV (50 and 80%), as well as the pathogens Trichomonas vaginalis (35% – women) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (17, 5 and 2.5%, respectively) and dermatological pathology (scabies (10%), allergodermatoses (15%) – in women; psoriasis (1.3%) – in men) and tuberculosis (7.5 and 5% respectively). Risk factors for contracting STIs, including syphilis, in particular, were latent forms of infection, risky sexual behavior, drug use (women – 47.5%, men – 88%) and alcoholism (52.5 and 8.4%, respectively), repeated and long-term imprisonment (42.5 and 82.5%), no family (73.5 and 90%), tattoos (27.5 and 95%), and neglect of condom use, including number of visits while incarcerated. Conclusions. The high concentration in the institutions of the penitentiary system of key groups at risk of contracting syphilis creates a unique opportunity for scientific further research and practical application of the implementation of a number of effective therapeutic, diagnostic, organizational and preventive public health measures.

Detection of Syphilis among HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Patients in Ogun State, Nigeria

Background: Syphilis is still one of the major causes of death in some developing countries where HIV infection is also prevalent. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of syphilis among HIV positive and negative women in Ogun state. Methods: The serum samples of 240 (120 HIV Positive and 120 HIV Negative) consenting female participants were collected randomly and screened using two brands of Syphilis Immunochromatographic rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits: LabAcon (Biotest Biotech Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, China) and Perfect (Abbon Health care, Ltd, UK). The demographic and clinical information of the participants were collected using a structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS Statistics software package (version 18.0). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey-Kramer Multiple Comparisons Test was used to test for significant differences in the prevalence of syphilis among the study population. P values &lt;0.05 was considered significant. Results: The outcome of the study shows that Syphilis exist among both HIV-positive and HIV-negative women in Ogun State with a prevalence rate of 11.7% and 4.2%, respectively using LabAcon RDT kit and also 9.2% and 2.5%, respectively, using Perfect RDT kit. The occurrence of syphilis was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher among HIV-positive subjects compared to their 2 Annals of Immunology &amp; Immunotherapy Enitan SS, et al. Detection of Syphilis among HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Patients in Ogun State, Nigeria. Ann Immunol Immunother 2021, 3(2): 000144. Copyright© Enitan SS, et al. HIV-negative counterparts. All the participants who tested positive to syphilis were symptomatic regardless of their HIV status. Significant risk factors of syphilis associated with HIV infected subjects include past history of sexually transmitted infection and engagement in unprotected sex (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: Syphilis exists among both HIV-positive and HIV-negative women in Ogun State and therefore the need for routine screening for syphilis among women, especially those infected with HIV cannot be over-emphasized.

Incidence, risk factors and distribution of syphilis in the end-stage renal disease population in the USA.

BackgroundSyphilis is a sexually transmitted infection with an incidence of 14.9 cases per 100 000 persons in the USA in 2011. Untreated syphilis may remain quiescent for years but can also result in clinical sequelae, including neurosyphilis. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients may be at risk for syphilis due to a higher incidence of risk factors for the disease, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Despite the presence of these risk factors, the incidence of syphilis in the ESRD population has not been reported. To address this issue, we investigated the incidence and risk factors for syphilis in the ESRD population using the United States Renal Data System (USRDS).Methods This study analyzed incident ESRD patients from 2004 to 2010. Based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes for syphilis, we determined the incidence and risk factors for syphilis following an inpatient diagnosis. Generalized linear modeling was used to examine the relative risk (RR) for the disease when controlling for demographic and other clinical risk factors.ResultsA total of 383 diagnoses of syphilis were identified after screening 759 066 patients. The 8-year incidence of any type of syphilis was 50.45 cases per 100 000 person-years. Other unspecified syphilis (29.77 cases per 100 000 person-years) and neurosyphilis (10.93 cases per 100 000 person-years) were the most common diagnoses. The greatest incidence was found on the East and West Coasts. Patients with the disease were younger and more likely to be black and non-Hispanic. In the final model, the adjusted RR for syphilis was significantly increased with HIV (7.61), hepatitis C (3.57), herpes simplex (2.06) and hepatitis B (1.75).ConclusionsThe incidence of syphilis is >3-fold greater in ESRD patients when compared with the general population and is associated with sexually transmitted viral infections. Neurosyphilis is a common occurrence and is treatable, suggesting that all assessments of confusion in dialysis patients should include screening for the disease.

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

Abstract 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.

Prevalence and risk factors of syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus co-infection at a university hospital in Brazil.

The incidence of syphilis has increased since the 1970s. This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study with a non-probabilistic sample. Of 973 patients with human immunodeficiency virus, 179 (18.4%) tested positive for both human immunodeficiency virus and syphilis, 84.8% were men, 50.9% were aged between 36 and 50 years, 47.8% with syphilis were diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus for 10-20 years, and 40.3% received antiretroviral therapy for 10-20 years. The prevalence of syphilis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus is higher than expected, making it urgent to adopt efficient public health measures.

Bio-behavioral survey of syphilis in homeless men in Central Brazil: a cross-sectional study.

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with syphilis in homeless men in Central Brazil. It is a cross-sectional study conducted with 481 individuals attending four therapeutic communities between October and December 2015. A structured interview was conducted to collect sociodemographic data and risk factors for syphilis. Rapid/point-of-care and VDRL tests were performed to determine exposure to syphilis and the presence of active syphilis, respectively. Poisson regression analysis was used to verify the risk factors associated with the outcomes investigated. Of the study participants, 10.2% were reactive to the rapid test, and 5.4% had active syphilis. At the multiple regression analysis, schooling (adjusted prevalence ratio - APR: 0.89; p = 0.005), history of genital ulcer (APR: 2.59; p = 0.002), STI history (APR: 1.97; p = 0.042), and sexual intercourse under drug effects (APR: 1.60; p = 0.022) were independent factors associated with lifetime syphilis. Also, history of genital ulcer (APR: 2.19; p = 0.019), STI history (APR: 1.74; p = 0.033) and number of sexual partners in the last year (APR: 1.02; p = 0.044) were associated with active syphilis. The prevalence of syphilis among homeless men was rather high, confirming the vulnerability of this group to this infection. These results emphasize the need for educational intervention, improvement of risk reduction programs, availability of diagnostic tests, especially the rapid test, and treatment.

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

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. 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. 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. 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.

Factors associated with four atypical cases of congenital syphilis in England, 2016 to 2017: an ecological analysis.

Four isolated cases of congenital syphilis born to mothers who screened syphilis negative in the first trimester were identified between March 2016 and January 2017 compared with three cases between 2010 and 2015. The mothers were United Kingdom-born and had no syphilis risk factors. Cases occurred in areas with recent increases in sexually-transmitted syphilis among women and men who have sex with men, some behaviourally bisexual, which may have facilitated bridging between sexual networks.

Association between eye diagnosis and positive syphilis test results in a large, urban sexually transmitted infection/primary care clinic population.

In 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) released clinical advisories on rising cases of ocular syphilis. We examined the association between eye disease and syphilis infection among primary care and sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic patients attending an urban lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) health center. We conducted a retrospective medical record review of all patients who underwent syphilis testing at Howard Brown Health between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2015. Confirmed eye diagnosis was based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) diagnosis codes for conjunctivitis, uveitis, keratitis, retinitis, and red eye. Demographic information, syphilis treatment, HIV status, and high-risk behaviors were abstracted. Syphilis diagnosis was defined by available laboratory data (enzyme immunoassay [EIA], rapid plasma reagin [RPR] titer, fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption [FTA-Abs], Treponema pallidum Ab). Multivariable logistic regression with robust variance was used to identify independent associations. During the study period, 71,299 syphilis tests were performed on 30,422 patients. There were 2288 (3.2%) positive syphilis tests. Seventy-seven patients had a confirmed eye diagnosis (0.25%). Patients with eye disease had higher probability of at least one positive syphilis test (33%) compared to those without eye disease (8%) ( p < 0.01). Of patients with eye disease, 77% were men who had sex with men (MSM) and 65% were HIV-positive. Patients with eye disease had 5.97 (95% CI: 3.70, 9.63) higher odds of having syphilis compared to patients without eye disease. When adjusted for age, race, gender/sexual orientation, insurance status, and HIV status, this association between positive syphilis test and eye disease decreased but was still significant (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.17, 3.41). Patients who present with an eye diagnosis to STI/primary care clinic have a higher probability of positive syphilis tests even after adjusting for other risk factors for syphilis. High-risk patients with eye symptoms should have routine STI testing and in keeping with CDC and AAO recommendations, full ophthalmologic examination.

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Risk factors for syphilis in women: case-control study.

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE To determine the sociodemographic, behavioral, and health care factors related to the occurrence of syphilis in women treated at public maternity hospitals.METHODS This is a case-control study (239 cases and 322 controls) with women admitted to seven maternity hospitals in the municipality of Recife, Brazil, from July 2013 to July 2014. Eligible women were recruited after the result of the VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) under any titration. The selection of cases and controls was based on the result of the serology for syphilis using ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). The independent variables were grouped into: sociodemographic, behavioral, clinical and obstetric history, and health care in prenatal care and maternity hospital. Information was obtained by interview, during hospitalization, with the application of a questionnaire. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using logistic regression to identify the predicting factors of the variable to be explained.RESULTS The logistic regression analysis identified as determinant factors for gestational syphilis: education level of incomplete basic education or illiterate (OR = 2.02), lack of access to telephone (OR = 2.4), catholic religion (OR = 1.70 ), four or more pregnancies (OR = 2.2), three or more sexual partners in the last year (OR = 3.1), use of illicit drugs before the age of 18 (OR = 3.0), and use of illicit drugs by the current partner (OR = 1.7). Only one to three prenatal appointments (OR = 3.5) and a previous history of sexually transmitted infection (OR = 9.7) were also identified as determinant factors.CONCLUSIONS Sociodemographic, behavioral, and health care factors are associated with the occurrence of syphilis in women and should be taken into account in the elaboration of universal strategies aimed at the prevention and control of syphilis, but with a focus on situations of greater vulnerability.

Active syphilis and its association with HIV and sexual risk behaviours in a multicity sample of men who have sex with men and transgender women in Peru.

Independent correlates suggestive of active syphilis infection were examined to better understand risk factors for syphilis in MSM and TGW, with separate analyses conducted based on location and among TGW. In 2011, 5101 MSM and TGW completed both self-report surveys and HIV and syphilis testing in five Peruvian cities. Overall, 261 (5.1%) MSM and TGW met the criteria for active syphilis, with higher prevalence in Lima than elsewhere (7.0% vs 3.0%) and in TGW than in MSM (10.7% vs 4.2%). Significant independent correlates of active syphilis infection differed greatly by location. In Lima, they included being HIV-infected (aware or unaware of status), being a TGW, being a high school graduate, engaging in receptive anal intercourse, no recent sex with a female partner and having had any symptomatic sexually transmissible infection, including syphilis, in the previous 6 months. Outside Lima, the independent correlates included being HIV-infected and unaware of status, engaging in recent sex work, no recent sex with a female partner and age 35-44 years. Among TGW, independent correlates of active syphilis included being HIV-infected (aware or unaware of status), a recent syphilis diagnosis in the previous 6 months and recent drug use. The findings of the present study support the need not only for combined HIV and syphilis screening, but also for increased screening and treatment of syphilis in MSM and TGW populations. Stratified analyses suggest different syphilis epidemics throughout the country and in TGW, yet being HIV-infected and aware were consistently associated with active syphilis, suggesting higher syphilis risk in HIV-infected MSM and TGW.

Syphilis on the rise: A prolonged syphilis outbreak among HIV-infected patients in Northern Greece.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a major public health issue in Europe. Numerous outbreaks of syphilis have been described recently and an increased prevalence of high-risk sexual practices has raised concern about the transmission of HIV and other STDs. Similarly, an increase in sexually transmitted infections has been recorded in Northern Greece. This report describes a recent outbreak of syphilis in people living with HIV. The demographic, clinical, and serologic data of HIV patients diagnosed with syphilis were recorded and analyzed. Data on syphilis incidence from the general population was also compared to HIV patients' data. Fifty-eight HIV-patients of the Infectious Diseases Unit of a tertiary hospital (5.2%) were diagnosed with syphilis during a three-year period (2008-2010). Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and coexistence of other STDs were independent predictors of syphilis (OR: 2.4, 95CI%: 1.26, 4.63, p=0.008; OR: 9.4, 95%CI: 4.49, 19.64, p<0.001, respectively). Origin from a country other than Greece (p=0.005), and homosexual contact (p=0.003), were separate risk factors for syphilis in the general population in the same area. Diagnosis of a sexually transmitted disease in an HIV patient is a crucial clinical event that should trigger the clinician's suspicion for high-risk sexual behavior. Sexual health assessments should be a routine process for HIV patients.

A study on usefulness of a set of known risk factors in predicting maternal syphilis infections in three districts of Western Province, Zambia.

IntroductionDespite roll-out of cost-effective point-of-care tests, less than half antenatal attendees in rural western Zambia are screened for syphilis. This study formulated a clinical, risk-based assessment criteria and evaluated its usefulness as a non-biomedical alternative for identifying high-risk prenatal cases.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey of antenatal clinic attendees in Kaoma, Luampa and Nkeyema districts to collect data on exposure to nine pre-selected syphilis risk factors. These factors were classified into major and minor factors based on their observed pre-study association strengths to maternal syphilis. Clinical disease was defined as exposure to either two major factors, one major with two minor factors or three minor factors. Sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of the clinical protocol were then calculated in comparison to rapid plasmin reagin results.ResultsThe observed syphilis prevalence was 9.3% (95% CI: 7.4 - 11.6%) and the overall sensitivity of the study criteria was 62.3% with positive predictive value of 72.9%. Sensitivities of individual case-defining categories were even lower; from 17.4% to 33.3%. Results confirmed that abortion history, still birth, multiple sexual partners, previous maternal syphilis infection, partner history of sexually transmitted infection and maternal co-morbid conditions of HIV and genital ulcer disease were significantly associated to maternal syphilis in study population as well.ConclusionThe criteria was not as effective as biomedical tests in identifying maternal syphilis. However, it could be a useful adjunct/alternative in antenatal clinics when biomedical tests are either inadequate or unavailable.

Syphilis among people with HIV infection in southern Ethiopia: sero-prevalence and risk factors.

BackgroundSyphilis facilitates both HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) transmission and acquisition, reflecting the complex interplay between the two infections. Scarce information exists regarding syphilis epidemiology in Ethiopian context. Thus, this study determined the sero-prevalence of syphilis and associated risk factors in people with HIV infection.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted at Hawassa Referral Hospital, southern Ethiopia from January to May, 2014. A consecutive 993 HIV–infected participants were studied; but individuals under 15 years of age or treated for syphilis or those with a CD4+ T–cell count below 50 cells/μl were excluded. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data on socio-demography and potential risk factors for syphilis. Moreover, blood samples were collected from all participants and screened for syphilis using rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test, and those found sero-positive were confirmed using treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay (TPHA).ResultsThe sero-prevalence of syphilis was found to be 7.3% (95% CI 5.7– 9%). The rate of infection was significantly higher among participants who were ART (antiretroviral therapy) naive (odds ratio (OR) = 2.2; 95% CI 1.22 – 4.1), men (OR = 2.2; 95% CI 1.22 – 3.87), older than 50 years of age (OR = 3.9; 95% CI 1.45 – 6.94), had only primary school level education (OR = 7.8; 95% CI 2.63 – 23.2) and had a history of blood transfusion (OR = 3.9; 95% CI 1.5 – 10.4).ConclusionThe high prevalence of syphilis among HIV-infected population warrants integrating syphilis screening with HIV care to limit the clinical consequences of untreated syphilis as well as its adverse impact on HIV transmission.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of syphilis among HIV/AIDS patients in Istanbul, Turkey.

Data on syphilis seroprevalence among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients are unavailable in Turkey although they have common transmission routes. Our study is oriented towards the assessment of the seroprevalence of syphilis and the related risk factors in the HIV/AIDS patients followed in our outpatient clinic. Newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases (n = 308) who attended our outpatient clinic between January 2006 and April 2013 were included in the study. Patient characteristics, medical history, physical examination findings, CD4+ T lymphocyte count, HIV RNA level, rapid plasma reagent (RPR) and Treponema pallidum hemagglutination (TPHA) test results were analyzed retrospectively. TPHA positivity was considered indicative of syphilis-causing T pallidum exposure. HIV infection was transmitted through heterosexual (n = 176) or homosexual (n =131) contact (266 male, 86.3%; age 38.3 ± 11.7 years; CD4+ T lymphocyte count, 330.6 ± 15.17/mm3). 50.7% of the patients attained only primary education. Out of the 245 cases, who were asked about the number of their sexual partners, 40 patients (26 women) lived in a monogamous relationship. Condom usage was not practiced (57.2%) or was only occasional (34.4% - particularly with their legal spouses and for contraception). Physical exam revealed no signs of syphilis or other STIs. TPHA (+/- RPR) positivity was determined in 40 patients (12.9%), indicating T pallidum exposure. All patients with positive syphilis serology were male (p= 0.0026). T pallidum exposure was determined in 21.3% of homosexual and 6.8% of heterosexual cases (p = 0.0003). Since sexual contact is the most common route of transmission for both infections, syphilis seroprevalence was relatively high in our HIV/AIDS patients. Male and homosexual HIV/AIDS patients constituted a group at the highest risk for syphilis.

Risk Factors for Syphilis Among Married Men Who Have Sex With Men in China

The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of syphilis among men who have sex with men (MSM) currently married with women in cities of China and examine the related factors for syphilis among them. "Snowballing" sampling was used to recruit participants in 4 cities from April 2008 to August 2009. Information of participants was collected anonymously and remained confidential. Blood samples were collected from all eligible participants for HIV and syphilis tests. A total of 858 men participated in the study, and their average age was 38.3 years (ranged from 21 to 75 years). Fifty-three percent did not have residence cards, 37% accepted junior high school education or less, and 41% identified themselves as gay. The prevalence of HIV and syphilis was 8.0% and 17.9%, respectively. Older age, less education, homosexual orientation, the sex of the first sexual partner, residential places, and HIV infection were significantly associated with syphilis infection. Gay had higher proportions of some risk sexual behaviors than did non-gay-identified participants, including the first insert sex before 18 years (17.9% vs. 13.0%), the first male sex partner (49.0% vs. 34.3%) anal sex in the last 6 months (88.0% vs. 83.0%), noncondom use in the last anal sex (35.9% vs. 28.0%), and never use condom in anal sex in the last 6 months (14.8% vs. 9.1%). Non-gay-identified participants had a higher proportion of having opposite sex than did gay participants (70.8% vs. 43.0%). Currently married MSM had a high prevalence of syphilis, and preventive interventions should be developed to control syphilis transmissions among currently married MSM via extromarital sex and intromarital opposite sex.