title: High rates of sexually transmitted infections in HIV positive homosexual men: data from two community based cohorts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Higher levels of sexual risk behaviours have been reported in HIV positive than in HIV negative homosexual men. In clinic based studies, higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have also been reported. We compared rates of common STIs between HIV positive and HIV negative homosexual men from two ongoing community based cohort studies in Sydney, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants in the two cohorts were recruited using similar community based strategies. They were interviewed face to face annually after enrollment. Comprehensive sexual health screening, including hepatitis A and B, syphilis, gonorrhoea, and chlamydia (in urethra and anus) was offered to participants in both cohorts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In participants in the HIV positive cohort, 75% were hepatitis A seropositive, 56% had serological evidence of previous or current hepatitis B infection, and 24% had evidence of vaccination against hepatitis B infection. 19% of men tested positive for syphilis and 4% had evidence of recent infections. Compared with men in the HIV negative cohort, after adjustment for age, HIV positive participants had significantly higher prevalence of previous or current hepatitis B infection, syphilis, and anal gonorrhoea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This finding supports the need for frequent STI testing in HIV positive men to prevent morbidity and to decrease the risk of ongoing HIV transmission.
authors.affiliation: National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Level 2, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia. jjin@nchecr.unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Fengyi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Garrett P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Prestage
authors.forename: Iryna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zablotska
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rawstorne
authors.forename: Susan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kippax
authors.forename: Basil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.forename: Philip H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Templeton
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kaldor
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Grulich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*