Increasing syphilis rates among men who have sex with men and screening to detect asymptomatic infection
Marcus Chen A B D and Rebecca Guy C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, 580 Swanston Street, Carlton, Vic. 3053, Australia.
B Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia.
C The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2033, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: mchen@mshc.org.au
Sexual Health 14(4) 301-303 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH17037
Submitted: 23 February 2017 Accepted: 10 March 2017 Published: 9 May 2017
Abstract
With reports of increasing syphilis rates among men who have sex with men in various countries and complications such as ocular syphilis and neurosyphilis, greater efforts for promoting frequent syphilis screening of higher risk men are required. This should include serological testing for syphilis every time HIV testing is undertaken and each time HIV viral load testing is performed in HIV-positive men who have sex with men. Systems-based approaches tailored to particular contexts should be explored, evaluated and, if shown to be effective, implemented.
References
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