Is it time to move to nucleic acid amplification tests screening for pharyngeal and rectal gonorrhoea in men who have sex with men to improve gonorrhoea control?
Christopher K. Fairley A B F , Marcus Y. Chen A B , Catriona S. Bradshaw C and Sepehr N. Tabrizi D E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Hospital, Carlton, Vic. 3053, Australia.
B Sexual Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Vic. 3053, Australia.
C Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia.
D Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia.
E Department of Microbiology, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: cfairley@mshc.org.au
Sexual Health 8(1) 9-11 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH10134
Submitted: 21 October 2010 Accepted: 7 November 2010 Published: 24 January 2011
Abstract
The use of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), as well as or in preference to culture for non-genital sites is now recommended both in Australia and overseas because of their greater sensitivity and improved specificity. A survey of 22 Australian sexual health clinics who each year test over 14 500 men who have sex with men (MSM) show that culture remains the predominate method for detecting gonorrhoea at pharyngeal (64%) and rectal (73%) sites. This editorial discusses the potential disadvantages of using culture over NAAT in relation to optimal gonorrhoea control among MSM and advocates that significantly improved control would be achieved by moving to NAAT with the proviso that culture samples are taken wherever possible on NAAT-positive samples and from clients with urethritis to ensure continued surveillance for antimicrobial resistance.
References
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