title: Syphilis and HIV co-infection in patients who attend an AIDS outpatient clinic in Vitoria, Brazil.
abstract: Our goal was to determine the prevalence of, and risk factors associated with, syphilis in HIV-infected patients who attend an AIDS outpatient clinic in Vitoria, Brazil. We conducted a cross-sectional study-including interviews for demographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics-and blood collection (venipuncture and fingerstick) for VDRL and treponemal tests (rapid test) in a total of 438 patients. The mean age was 43.0 years (SD = 11), and mean years of school was 8.1 (SD = 4.2). The prevalence of syphilis was 5.3 % (95 % CI 3.3-7.3). The treponemal test was positive in 18.9 % of participants. In multivariate analysis, prevalent syphilis infection was independently associated with male gender (AOR 4.6, 95 % CI 1.1-20.0), a history of male-male sex (AOR 1.8, 95 % CI 1.6-4.1), current use of antiretroviral therapy (AOR 5.5, 95 % CI 1.7-16.7), and history of treated syphilis infection (AOR 5.5, 95 % CI 2.0-15.8). Syphilis prevalence was high in patients living with HIV/AIDS who attend an AIDS clinic; therefore, routine sexually transmitted infections counseling and screening should be included in their care.
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Doenças Infecciosas, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Av. Marechal Campos, 1468, Vitoria, ES, 29040-091, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabiola Mesquita
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Callegari
authors.forename: Lauro Ferreira
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Pinto-Neto
authors.forename: Charlla Jezus
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: Camila Binsi
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Scopel
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: Angélica Espinosa
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Miranda
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis