title: Sexually transmitted infections among HIV-infected heavy drinkers in St Petersburg, Russia.
abstract: The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and identify correlates of four sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among HIV-infected Russians reporting heavy alcohol use and recent unprotected sex, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from the HERMITAGE study. The primary outcome was any current STI, based on urine tests for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis and Trichomonas vaginalis and serological testing for infection with Treponema pallidum. Data on potential demographic and behavioural predictors of STI were obtained from surveys administered at study entry. Of 682 participants, 12.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 10.3, 15.3) tested positive for at least one STI. In a multivariable model adjusted for gender, age and marital status, only sex trade involvement over the last three months was significantly associated with an increased odds of STI (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.00, 95% CI 1.13, 3.55). Given that STIs were common in this HIV-infected cohort, and that few patient characteristics predicted STI, the current practice of screening HIV-infected Russians for syphilis alone merits re-evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit, Boston University School of Medicine/Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA. Christine.pace@bmc.org
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pace
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lioznov
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Wakeman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raj
authors.forename: A Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Walley
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bridden
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krupitsky
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Samet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data