title: A retrospective study on HIV and syphilis.
abstract: In the early 1990s a reduction in the rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) occurred, although recent years have seen an increase. The aim of this study was to examine epidemiological and clinical features of syphilis cases in patients with HIV infection. We reviewed the charts of HIV-infected patients referring to our centre in the period 2002-2011. Fifty of the 402 consecutive HIV-positive patients (12.4%) received a diagnosis of syphilis. An increasing trend in the number of syphilis cases was observed within the period of the study. Most patients with syphilis (64%) presented a latent syphilis of unknown duration. About half of these received a concomitant diagnosis of HIV infection. Men who have sex with men (MSM) were the largest group. In the years 2002-2011, the incidence of syphilis in HIV-infected patients increased in our centre, notably among MSM. There is an urgent need for campaigns aiming to prevent STIs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foggia
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bonadies
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio Riccardo
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Buonomo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Minei
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borrelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Squillace
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Rosanio
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delfino
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Guglielmo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borgia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*