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Scholarly Works (3 results)

  • Article
  • Peer Reviewed
UCLA Previously Published Works (2022)
Abstract: Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective for HIV prevention and is being scaled up globally. Patients on PrEP have high rates of bacterial STIs, like Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), thus routine screening is recommended. However, access to screening tests for STIs are limited in many low-resource settings. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of CT and NG among participants in Vietnam’s first PrEP program. Methods: From January through April 2022 participants in the PrEP program at the Sexual Health Promotion Clinic in Hanoi, Vietnam were recruited to study STI prevalence. Study participants completed a survey collecting demographic, behavioral and clinical characteristics. Participants self-collected urine, rectal, and pharyngeal specimens for nucleic-acid testing. Participants positive for NG had an additional specimen collected for culture and antibiotic susceptibility. Results: In total, 108 participants were enrolled, median age was 24 years (IQR: 22– 28). All were male and reported having sex with men in the prior 12 months. The median number of sex partners in the prior 1 month was 1 (IQR: 1 – 2). Symptoms within the prior week were reported by 41.7% (45/108) – 19.4% reported rectal, 15.7% reported urethral, and 26.9% reported pharyngeal symptoms. The overall prevalence of CT or NG infections was 31.5% (34/108). The prevalence of CT was 24.1% (26/108); by anatomic site, there were 17 (15.7%) rectal, 10 (9.3%) pharyngeal, and 6 (5.6%) urethral infections. The prevalence of NG was 13.0% (14/108); there were 12 (11.1%) pharyngeal, 9 (8.3%) rectal, and 0 urethral infections. Among participants reporting any symptoms, CT prevalence was 26.7% (12/45) and NG prevalence 13.3% (6/45). All infections were treated. Conclusion: The prevalence of CT and NG was very high among this population of young MSM in a PrEP program in Hanoi, Vietnam. A high proportion of CT infections were rectal (65%) and 86% of NG infections were pharyngeal. These findings highlight the need for expanded access to extragenital nucleic-acid testing among PrEP programs in low- and middle-income countries. Studies demonstrating the benefit of CT/NG screening and treatment within PrEP programs are urgently needed. Disclosures: Jeffrey Klausner, MD MPH, Cepheid: Advisor/Consultant|Cepheid: Grant/Research Support|Cepheid: Research equipment and supplies.
    Creative Commons 'BY' version 4.0 license
    • Article
    • Peer Reviewed
    UCLA Previously Published Works (2022)

    Background: Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) disproportionately affect men who have sex with men (MSM). Data on the prevalence, anatomical distribution, and correlates of NG and CT infections among MSM in Vietnam are limited.

    Methods: Between July 2017 and April 2019, MSM 16 years or older, without HIV were enrolled into an observational cohort study. Baseline data, including sociodemographics, sexual behavior, and HIV status were collected. NG and CT testing were performed on urine, rectal, and pharyngeal specimens. Multivariate logistic regression models identified factors associated with NG and CT infections at baseline.

    Results: In total, 1489 participants underwent NG/CT testing. The median age was 22 years (IQR: 20 – 26). There were 424 (28.5%) NG or CT infections; 322 (21.6%) with CT and 173 (11.6%) with NG. Rectal infections were most common for CT (73.9%), while pharyngeal infections were most common for NG (70.5%). Independent risk factors for CT or NG infection included: ≥2 sex partners in the prior month (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.04; 95% CI: 1.44, 2.91), condomless anal sex (aOR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.86), and meeting sex partners online (aOR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.76). Recent genitourinary or rectal symptoms were not associated with infections.

    Conclusions: The overall and extragenital prevalence of NG and CT infections were high within this sample of young MSM without HIV in Hanoi. Testing limited to urethral specimens would have missed nearly three-quarters of CT and NG infections, supporting the need for routine testing at multiple anatomic sites.

      Cover page: Prevalence, anatomic distribution, and correlates of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections among a cohort of men who have sex with men in Hanoi, Vietnam
      • Article
      • Peer Reviewed
      UCLA Previously Published Works (2022)

      Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) disproportionately affect men who have sex with men (MSM). Data on the prevalence, anatomical distribution, and correlates of NG and CT infections among MSM in Vietnam are limited.

      Between July 2017 and April 2019, MSM 16 years or older, without HIV were enrolled into an observational cohort study. Baseline data, including sociodemographics, sexual behavior, and HIV status were collected. NG and CT testing were performed on urine, rectal, and pharyngeal specimens. Multivariate logistic regression models identified factors associated with NG and CT infections at baseline.

      In total, 1489 participants underwent NG/CT testing. The median age was 22 years (IQR: 20 - 26). There were 424 (28.5%) NG or CT infections; 322 (21.6%) with CT and 173 (11.6%) with NG. Rectal infections were most common for CT (73.9%), while pharyngeal infections were most common for NG (70.5%). Independent risk factors for CT or NG infection included: ≥2 sex partners in the prior month (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.04; 95% CI: 1.44, 2.91), condomless anal sex (aOR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.86), and meeting sex partners online (aOR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.76). Recent genitourinary or rectal symptoms were not associated with infections.

      The overall and extragenital prevalence of NG and CT infections were high within this sample of young MSM without HIV in Hanoi. Testing limited to urethral specimens would have missed nearly three-quarters of CT and NG infections, supporting the need for routine testing at multiple anatomic sites.

        Cover page: Prevalence, anatomic distribution, and correlates of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections among a cohort of men who have sex with men in Hanoi, Vietnam.
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