Prevalence of antibodies against Treponema pallidum among HIV-positive patients in a tertiary care hospital in Mexico.
Our objective was to determine the seroprevalence of syphilis among HIV-infected patients in a tertiary care hospital in Mexico City. A cross-sectional study was developed, and 318 HIV-positive patients were evaluated from January to February 2013 at Hospital de Infectología, National Medical Center 'La Raza' (a tertiary care hospital specialising in infectious diseases in Mexico City). Laboratory data were screened for the detection of antibodies against Treponema pallidum. Patients completed a questionnaire relating to socio-demographic data and factors associated with syphilis. Of the 318 patients, 83% were men. The mean age ± SD was 36 ± 11 years; 52% were men who have sex with men and 47% had undertaken higher education. The overall seroprevalence of syphilis among these patients was 25% (95% confidence interval 21%, 30%). Men who have sex with men had a significantly higher seroprevalence (30% vs. 15%, p = 0.009). We conclude that, in Mexico, there is a high seroprevalence of syphilis antibodies in HIV-infected patients and that men who have sex with men are the group most affected.
Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital de Infectología, "La Raza" National Medical Center, IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico jamatamarin@gmail.com.
José Antonio
JA
Mata-Marín
Epidemiology Department, Hospital de Infectología, "La Raza" National Medical Center, IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico.
Juan Joel
JJ
Sandoval-Sánchez
Pediatric Infectious Diseases Department, "Siglo XXI" National Medical Center, IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico.
Gloria
G
Huerta-García
Central Blood Bank, "La Raza" National Medical Center, IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico.
Carla Ileana
CI
Arroyo-Anduiza
Epidemiology Department, Hospital de Infectología, "La Raza" National Medical Center, IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico.
Enrique
E
Alcalá-Martínez
Internal Medicine Department, St. Johannisstift Ev. Krankenhaus Paderborn, Germany.
Luis Alberto
LA
Mata-Marín
Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital de Infectología, "La Raza" National Medical Center, IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico.
Jorge Luis
JL
Sandoval-Ramirez
Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital de Infectología, "La Raza" National Medical Center, IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico.
Jesús
J
Gaytán-Martínez
D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D063128:Tertiary Health Care; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial
AIDS; HIV; Treponema pallidum; clinical features; epidemiology; prevalence; sexually transmitted infection; socio-demographic; syphilis