Sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and HIV-1 infections in two at-risk populations in Barcelona: female street prostitutes and STI clinic attendees.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and HIV-1 infections in female street prostitutes and STI clinic attendees in Barcelona.


METHODS
This was a prospective study carried out in two four-month periods over two years. Urine specimens were tested for CT and NG using a PCR pooling algorithm. Among street prostitutes HIV-1 testing in urine was also carried out.


RESULTS
The prevalences of CT, NG, and HIV-1 in female street prostitutes (n=301) were 4.7%, 3.7%, and 1.0%, respectively. Women from Eastern Europe had the highest prevalence of CT (p=0.01). Prevalences of CT, NG, and HIV-1 among all clinic attendees (n=536) were 4.3%, 4.5%, and 4.4%, respectively. Prevalence of HIV-1 infection among homosexual men was higher compared with heterosexual men and women (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Overall CT prevalence is currently lower than in other European countries, although it could increase as a result of immigration. Rates of HIV-1 and of NG are higher among homosexual than among heterosexual men.
Vall-Mayans
M
M
Sexually Transmitted Infections Unit, Primary Health Center Drassanes, Catalan Health Institute, E-08001 Barcelona, Spain. mvall.pbcn@ics.scs.es
Villa
M
M
Saravanya
M
M
Loureiro
E
E
Meroño
M
M
Arellano
E
E
Sanz
B
B
Saladié
P
P
Andreu
A
A
Codina
M G
MG
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work; D019529:Sexuality; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex