Screening for chlamydia and gonorrhoea in men who have sex with men in clinical and non-clinical settings
Marian J. Currie A D , Sarah J. Martin A B , Tuck Meng Soo C and Francis J. Bowden A BA Academic Unit of Internal Medicine, Australian National University Medical School, Canberra Clinical School, The Canberra Hospital, PO Box 11, Woden, ACT 2605, Australia.
B Canberra Sexual Health Centre, The Canberra Hospital, PO Box 11, Woden, ACT 2605, Australia.
C Interchange General Practice, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email marian.currie@act.gov.au
Sexual Health 3(2) 123-126 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH05050
Submitted: 10 October 2005 Accepted: 28 February 2006 Published: 26 May 2006
Abstract
Background: There are few published data on the rate of chlamydia and gonorrhoea infection in men who have sex with men (MSM). Our aim was to determine the rate of positive chlamydia and gonorrhoea tests in this population in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Methods: Results of all chlamydia and gonorrhoea tests generated by Canberra Sexual Health Centre between June 2001 and September 2003, including those from outreach clinics, were reviewed (audit one). Between September 2003 and April 2004, Canberra Sexual Health Centre outreach program staff and a general practitioner with a high caseload of MSM offered screening of the throat, urethra and rectum to all MSM, irrespective of their reported participation in unprotected anal intercourse. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea test results generated during this period were reviewed (audit two). Results: In the first audit, 1086 specimens from 314 individuals were tested and 30/314 (9.6%, 95% CI 6.6–13.4) men were positive for chlamydia in one or more anatomical site. A total of 306 specimens from 118 individuals were tested for gonorrhoea. Of these, eight (6.8%, 95% CI 3.0–12.9) individuals tested positive. In the second audit, 16 of 157 men (10.2%, 95% CI 9.5–16.0) tested positive for chlamydia and 4/155 (2.6%, 95% CI 0.7–6.5) tested positive for gonorrhoea. The rectum was the most commonly infected anatomical site for both infections. The overall proportions of positive chlamydia and gonorrhoea tests were 36/471 (7.6%, 95% CI 5.4–10.4) and 12/273 (4.4%, 95% CI 2.2–7.6) respectively. Conclusions: These data, collected in a range of settings, indicate high rates of chlamydia and gonorrhoea in MSM in the ACT and provide support for annual testing, particularly of the rectum, in this population.
Additional keywords: outreach, screening guidelines, throat, urethra.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the staff of the Canberra Sexual Health Centre for collecting the specimens and the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments.
[1] Ciemins EL, Flood J, Kent CK, Shaw H, Rowniak S, Moncada J, et al. Reexamining the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection among gay men with urethritis: implications for STD policy and HIV prevention activities. Sex Transm Dis 2000; 27(5): 249–51.
| PubMed | [verified May 2006].
[18] Johnston VJ, Britt H, Pan Y, Mindel A. The management of sexually transmitted infections by Australian general practitioners. Sex Transm Infect 2004; 80(3): 212–5.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
[19] McDougall L, Mathias RG, O’Connor BA, Bowie WR. Management of Chlamydia trachomatis genital infections: reported practices of primary care physicians. CMAJ 1992; 146(5): 715–21.
| PubMed |
[20] Huengsberg M, Ip CB, Radcliffe KW. How well is pelvic inflammatory disease managed in general practice? A postal questionnaire survey. Sex Transm Infect 1998; 74(5): 361–3.
| PubMed |
[21]
[22]
