title: Sexual health screening in people living with HIV--are we getting the whole story?
abstract: Patients' notes were audited to evaluate sexual health screening in 385 people living with HIV. A total of 76% were offered sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening; 85% of these accepted; 62% reported regular partners of whom 44% were also people living with HIV. In men who have sex with men (MSM), 64% reported consistent condom use for anal sex; of these, 15% had rectal STIs diagnosed. Of all patients, 62% reported monogamous relationships; in this MSM sub-group, 12% had STIs diagnosed. STIs are still being diagnosed despite continued safe sex messages and significantly in those reporting monogamous relationships and consistent condom use. Sexual history and safe sex education should be integral to routine care and STI screening offered annually regardless of sexual history as recommended by 2013 British HIV Association Standards of Care for People Living with HIV. More frequent STI screening may be required in high-risk patients.
authors.affiliation: Manchester Centre for Sexual Health, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK katrina.perez@dbh.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.affiliation: Manchester Centre for Sexual Health, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bassett
authors.affiliation: Manchester Centre for Sexual Health, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D060728:Reproductive Health; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: AIDS; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; sexual health screening; sexually transmitted infection