Posts
More than one-third of patients being treated for syphilis were also co-infected with HIV in this study of 2009 data from multiple states.
The team reviewed data submitted to CDC from states that reported HIV co-infection status for at least 70 percent of primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis cases during 2009. Derived from P&S syphilis patient interviews, the data included census region, sex, sex of partner, race/ethnicity, age and HIV status. In the calculation of co-infection prevalence, the number of co-infected patients was the numerator, and the number of all P&S syphilis patients who were asked their HIV status was the denominator.
A total of 34 states and Washington, D.C., met inclusion criteria; these jurisdictions accounted for 82 percent of US P&S syphilis cases in 2009 and 79 percent of estimated AIDS diagnoses in 2008. Ninety-six percent of 11,499 P&S syphilis patients were asked their HIV status. Of these 11,043, 36 percent were co-infected with HIV; 49 percent were not co-infected; 15 percent did not know their HIV status; and 1 percent did not disclose.
Co-infection was noted in 53 percent of 6,346 men who had sex with men in the previous 12 months; 9 percent of 2,021 men having sex with women only (MSW); and 5 percent of 1,599 women. Co-infection was noted among 59 percent of 2,405 black MSM; 49 percent of 1,262 Hispanic MSM; and 50 percent of 2,348 white MSM. Among MSM ages 15-19, co-infection was found among 35 percent of blacks, 11 percent of Hispanics, and 22 percent of whites. Co-infection was high among MSM regardless of region.
“Most reports of co-infection among MSW and women with P&S syphilis occurred among blacks (68 percent of 176 reports among MSW, and 72 percent of 72 reports among women),” according to the study.
“Regardless of race, ethnicity or region, high prevalences of HIV co-infection occurred among MSM with P&S syphilis,” the authors concluded. “Interventions to more effectively prevent HIV and syphilis among younger MSM, especially younger black MSM, are urgently needed.”
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
