Pilot study of pharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis in HIV-positive and HIV-negative men who have sex with men
Keshinie Samarasekara A , Colin Fitzpatrick A , Fionnuala Finnerty A and Daniel Richardson
A B C
A Sexual Health and HIV Medicine, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton, UK.
B Sexual Health and HIV Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK.
C Corresponding author. Email: daniel.richardson7@nhs.net
Sexual Health 18(2) 200-201 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH20218
Submitted: 2 December 2020 Accepted: 13 January 2021 Published: 27 April 2021
Abstract
Unlike pharyngeal Neisseria gonorrhoeae, less is known about pharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis in men who have sex with men (MSM). We reviewed cases of pharyngeal chlamydia in MSM from January to December 2019. The overall prevalence of pharyngeal chlamydia was 75/6613 (1.13%; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.9–1.14). The median number of sexual partners was three, four (5%) reported throat symptoms and 20 (26%) were HIV positive. Multi-site and concomitant infection was common: rectal chlamydia [39 (52%)], urethral chlamydia [12 (16%)], early syphilis [2 (3%)] and gonorrhoea [14 (19%)]. HIV-positive MSM with pharyngeal chlamydia were older (P = 0.02) and more likely to have had previous syphilis (odds ratio = 4.9; 95% CI = 1.6–14.7; P = 0.005). Further research is needed to explore the characteristics of pharyngeal chlamydia and benefits of increased screening for asymptomatic pharyngeal chlamydia in MSM.
Keywords: men who have sex with men (MSM), Chlamydia trachomatis, HIV/AIDS, oral sex, pharyngeal chlamydia, screening, concomitant infection, UK.
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