title: Syphilis with HIV in Florence, 2003-2009: a 7-year epidemiological study.
abstract: The aims of this study were to describe the trend of acquired syphilis in the city of Florence and its province over a 7-year period, to investigate sexual behaviours in the syphilis-infected population and to analyse syphilis/HIV co-infection. A total of 259 patients were classified according to age, sex and HIV infection. We estimated that from 2004 to 2008 cases increased by 248%. Most patients with concurrent HIV infection were male (31-45 years), but 40- to 60-year-old men who had sex with men predominated in both male and HIV-positive patients. Oral sex was identified as the most significant route of transmission, although most patients did not consider it so. Late-presenters with HIV accounted for 33% of HIV-positive patients: they were unaware of their HIV status and showed syphilis lesions only. In these cases, syphilis heralded the presence of HIV infection and allowed earlier diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Via delle Oblate 1, Florence, Italy. martinellicanio8@gmail.com
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tognetti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colao
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carocci
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Corsi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leoncini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology