title: Characteristics of Sexually Transmitted Infections among High-Risk HIV-Positive Patients Attending an Urban Clinic in Uganda.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) significantly increase HIV transmission. Sexually transmitted infections may be asymptomatic and therefore remain undiagnosed in HIV-positive persons. Routine screening and treatment of STIs in HIV-positive high-risk populations in sub-Saharan Africa have not been described previously.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed data from an HIV-positive high-risk population at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, a large urban HIV clinic, between July 2011 and April 2012. Our high-risk population cohort included female sex workers, long-distance drivers, barmaids, taxi drivers, commercial motorcycle "boda-boda" riders, soldiers, police officers, prison officers, security guards, prisoners, and fishermen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 355 participants enrolled in the high-risk population's program, 21.4% were diagnosed with an STI either clinically or microbiologically. The STIs diagnosed in this population were syphilis, hepatitis B, genital herpes, human papilloma virus infection (condylomata acuminata), nongonococcal urethritis (NGU), and gonorrhea. Rates of syphilis, hepatitis B, genital herpes, condylomata acuminata, NGU, and gonorrhea were 8.5%, 7.0%, 5.4%, 1.4%, 1.4%, and 0.3%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical and microbiologically diagnosed STIs were diagnosed in nearly one-fourth of the HIV-positive high-risk population. HIV care programs should note our high rates of STIs among HIV-positive high-risk populations and consider routine screening and treatment algorithms for these populations in their own settings.
authors.affiliation: Prevention, Care and Treatment Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda katutina1@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Katusiime
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: Walter F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Schlech
authors.affiliation: Prevention, Care and Treatment Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Rosalind
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parkes-Ratanshi
authors.affiliation: Prevention, Care and Treatment Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sempa
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kambugu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014454:Uganda; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV; high-risk population