Incidence of herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in 5 sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics and the effect of HIV/STD risk-reduction counseling.
The seroincidence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection was determined among 1766 patients attending sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics and enrolled in a randomized, controlled trial of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/STD risk-reduction counseling (RRC). Arm 1 received enhanced RRC (4 sessions); arm 2, brief RRC (2 sessions); and arm 3, the control arm, brief informational messages. The overall incidence rate was 11.7 cases/100 person-years (py). Independent predictors of incidence of HSV-2 infection included female sex; black race; residence in Newark, New Jersey; <50% condom use with an occasional partner; and, in females, incident trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis. Only 10.8% of new HSV-2 infections were diagnosed clinically. Incidence rates were 12.9 cases/100 py in the control arm, 11.8 cases/100 py in arm 2, and 10.3 cases/100 py in arm 1 (hazard ratio, 0.8 [95% confidence interval, 0.6-1.1], vs. controls). The possible benefit of RRC in preventing acquisition of HSV-2 infection offers encouragement that interventions more specifically tailored to genital herpes may be useful and should be an important focus of future studies.
Gottlieb
Sami L
SL
Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado, USA. stg8@cdc.gov
Douglas
John M
JM
Foster
Mark
M
Schmid
D Scott
DS
Newman
Daniel R
DR
Baron
Anna E
AE
Bolan
Gail
G
Iatesta
Michael
M
Malotte
C Kevin
CK
Zenilman
Jonathan
J
Fishbein
Martin
M
Peterman
Thomas A
TA
Kamb
Mary L
ML
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017280:Condoms; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044469:Racial Groups; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014245:Trichomonas Infections / Q000150:complications; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications