title: Aetiology of sexually transmitted disease (STD) and comparison of STD syndromes and aetiological diagnosis in Taipei, Taiwan.
abstract: Between July 2002 and July 2004, all male patients (n=307) presenting to a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic who reported unprotected sex were enrolled in the study. Of these, 63 (20.5%), 19 (6.2%) and one (0.3%) were infected with one, two and three pathogens, respectively. The prevalences of chlamydial infection, gonorrhoea, syphilis, human immunodeficiency virus infection and trichomoniasis were 14.3%, 10.1%, 6.8%, 2.2% and 0%, respectively. The sensitivities of urethral discharge syndrome for detection of chlamydial, gonococcal, and combined forms of infection were 31.8%, 58.5% and 70.0%, respectively, with specificities of 93.5%, 97.1% and 93.9%, respectively. Positive predictive values (PPVs) were 56.0%, 68.0% and 28.0% for chlamydial and gonococcal infections and combinations of the two forms, respectively. In contrast, the sensitivity of genital ulceration syndrome for syphilis detection was only 38.0%, although the specificity was 82.5%, and the PPV was 32.0%. To reduce the number of false-positive results for STD patients who practise unprotected sex, incorporation of risk assessment and rapid diagnostic tests are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Tatung University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: M-C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: L-H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: T-H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: L-H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: C-H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: K-T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000382:microbiology; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014245:Trichomonas Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*