Screening for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis at entertainment venues among men who have sex with men.
BACKGROUND
To assess the prevalence and increase awareness of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis infections among men who have sex with men, a screening program was conducted at three inner-city homosexual entertainment venues and one community function.


METHODS
Each venue was accessed twice over a 3-month period between March and June 2000. First-catch urine specimens were collected for analysis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and throat swabs were collected for culture and PCR.


RESULTS
A total of 202 men were tested during the 7 screening nights, including 16 who were tested more than once. From the 186 men tested for the first time, 184 urine specimens were collected, of which 8 (4.3%; 95% CI, 1.9-7.8%) were PCR-positive for C trachomatis and 1 (0.5%; 95% CI, 0-2.1%) was PCR-positive for N gonorrhoeae. Of the 161 throat swabs collected, none were positive for C trachomatis or N gonorrhoeae.


CONCLUSIONS
C trachomatis is a potentially significant pathogen in this population of urban homosexual men. Screening programs such as these are valuable as health-promotion exercises.
Debattista
Joseph
J
Brisbane Sexual Health & AIDS Service, The Prince Charles Hospital Health Service District, 484 Adelaide Street, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia. joedebat@powerup.com.au
Clementson
Chris
C
Mason
Drew
D
Dwyer
John
J
Argent
Shelly
S
Woodward
Charlotte
C
Dean
Judith
J
Buks
Lorraine
L
Copley
Mark
M
Hinwood
Greg
G
Benfield
Craig
C
Walton
Paul
P
D000328:Adult; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000652:urine; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000652:urine; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011998:Recreation; D014504:Urban Health
D004269:DNA, Bacterial