title: Prevalence of pharyngeal infection by Neisseria gonorrhoeae among human immunodeficiency virus-positive men who have sex with men in downtown Madrid, 2011.
abstract: The prevalence of pharyngeal gonorrhoea in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) is not entirely known. We cultured the pharynx of 264 asymptomatic HIV-positive MSM in downtown Madrid. A questionnaire on sexual and drug use risk behaviours was also administered. Gonococci were isolated in 25 (9.5%). Among the whole study population, 65% had a history of sexual intercourse with two or more partners on a single day and 26% were involved in group sex with other men. Only 29% regularly used condoms in all sexual encounters and 63% used condoms only in insertive anal intercourse. When asked about oral sex, 89% of patients engaged in insertive and/or receptive oral sex and 86% recognized that they did not regularly request the use of condoms when practising "fellatio" on a partner. Cocaine, crystal methamphetamine or alcohol use and a previous history of ≥1 sexually transmitted infection were significantly more common among culture-positive patients. Gonococcal colonization of the pharynx was self-limited in patients that were not treated and re-cultured a mean 18.5 ± 5.2 days after diagnosis. Asymptomatic pharyngeal gonorrhoea is common among HIV-positive MSM and may contribute to the increasing epidemic of gonorrhoea in Madrid.
authors: Division of Infectious Diseases (Department of Internal Medicine) and the Services of Clinical Microbiology and Dentistry, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain.
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: Jiménez
authors: María García
authors: MG
authors: Pedrazuela
authors: Marta Martínez
authors: MM
authors: Pérez
authors: Sol Fernández
authors: SF
authors: de Mosteyrín
authors: Juan J
authors: JJ
authors: Arrieta
authors: Manuel L Fernández
authors: ML
authors: Guerrero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006306:Health Surveys; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: AIDS; Europe; Gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae); HIV; human immunodeficiency virus; men who have sex with men; pharyngeal gonorrhoea; prevalence; sexually transmitted infection