Screening for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection among asymptomatic men who have sex with men in Bangkok, Thailand

Sarika Pattanasin, Eileen F. Dunne, Punneeporn Wasinrapee, Jaray Tongtoyai, Wannee Chonwattana, Anuwat Sriporn, Pikunchai Luechai, Philip A. Mock, Anupong Chitwarakorn, Timothy H. Holtz, Marcel E. Curlin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report positivity rates of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infection at each anatomic site among asymptomatic men who have sex with men (MSM). We calculated the number needed to screen (NNS) to detect CT and NG infection at each anatomic site. From 2006 to 2010, we enrolled Thai MSM, age ≥ 18 years into the Bangkok MSM Cohort Study. Participants underwent physical examination and had rectal, urethral, and pharyngeal screening for CT and NG infection using nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs). Of 1744 enrollees, 1696 (97.2%) had no symptoms of CT and NG infection. The positivity rates of CT and NG infection at any site were 14.3% (rectum, urethra, pharynx) and 6.4% (rectum, urethra), respectively. The NNS to detect rectal CT and rectal NG infections was 10 and 16, respectively (p < 0.05). For urethral infection, the NNS of CT was lower than the NNS of NG (22, 121: p < 0.05). The lowest NNS found for rectal CT infection was in HIV-infected MSM (6, 5–8). Asymptomatic CT and NG infection were common among MSM in Bangkok, Thailand and frequently detected in the rectum. In setting where screening in all specimens using NAAT is not feasible, rectal screening should be a priority.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)577-587
Number of pages11
JournalInternational Journal of STD and AIDS
Volume29
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2018

Keywords

  • Chlamydia trachomatis
  • Men who have sex with men
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae
  • screening

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Dermatology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology (medical)

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