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Across Australia during the past
decade, incident infections of syphilis and HIV have increased, especially among
gay men. Syphilis epidemics also have resurged, coincidentally with increases
in HIV diagnoses, in other industrialized settings. Noting that sexually
transmitted infections (STI) “are a biologically plausible cofactor for
increasing HIV transmission,” the authors undertook this study to learn whether
“strategies purely targeting syphilis also have an indirect impact on HIV
incidence.”
The researchers created an
agent-based computer model to simulate the transmission and progress of HIV and
syphilis in a population of sexually active gay men; the model was calibrated
to reflect the epidemics in Victoria. Detailed behavioral data from a variety
of sources informed the model, which was used to study the potential
epidemiological impact of different public health interventions.
Assuming that syphilis could be a
biological cofactor for HIV transmission, ranging from no effect to a five-fold
increase in risk, the model suggests that the effective implementation of
Australia’s syphilis action plan could cut the number of HIV infections “by up
to 48 percent over the next decade in the absence of any specific HIV
interventions,” the authors reported.
“It is plausible that effective
implementation of interventions targeting syphilis epidemics can have an
indirect effect of mitigating the spread of HIV,” the researchers concluded.
“The possible effects of STI should be considered in the design, implementation
and evaluation of public health strategies and programs.”
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!
