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Problems posed by potential gonococcal vaccines viewed from the vantage point of a control agency.

Progress in the characterisation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and other bacterial pathogens has suggested that immunoprophylaxis for gonorrhoea may be possible despite the well-known propensity for reinfection. Pili, outer membrane proteins, a capsular polysaccharide, and the lipopolysaccharide may be important gonococcal virulence factors, and immune components (probably antibodies) to more than one of these antigens may be required to confer immunity. A study of antigenic polymorphism of these structures should identify disease isolates more precisely and provide information about the relationship between variants of these gonococcal structures and gonococcal virulence.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

HIV infection and STD in drug addicted prostitutes in Amsterdam: potential for heterosexual HIV transmission.

To assess the potential role of drug using prostitutes in the heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), 117 prostitutes, recruited from December 1985 to November 1987 at a weekly evening sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic for drug using prostitutes only, were studied for the prevalence of HIV and STD. Intravenous drug use was reported by 96 (82%) of the women. Antibody to HIV was found in 35/117 (30%) women, all but one of whom had been using drugs intravenously. Most (73, 62%) of the prostitutes reported having had more than 2000 clients each in the preceding five years. In the six months preceding enrollment to the study they had practised mainly vaginal (106/117) and orogenital (82/117) intercourse; 90% (105/117) reported frequent use of condoms in vaginal intercourse and 65% (68/105) in orogenital intercourse. Despite frequent condom use, 81% (84/104) contracted one or more STD in this period. Considering the high incidence of HIV and STD and the finding by others that the presence of STD may facilitate transmission of HIV, we conclude that the potential for HIV transmission from these prostitutes to their clients (and vice versa) was clearly present.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Risk factors for gonorrhoea, syphilis, and trichomonas infections among women attending family planning clinics in Nairobi, Kenya.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the risk factors for gonorrhoea, syphilis, and trichomonas infections among low risk women in Nairobi, Kenya. METHOD: In a cross-sectional study, 4,404 women attending two peri-urban family planning clinics between 1989 and 1991 were interviewed using a structured questionnaire and examined for signs of sexually transmitted disease (STD) infection. Cervical cultures for gonorrhoea, PAP smear (including microscopy for trichomonas), RPR and HIV testing were done. RESULTS: Positive cervical cultures for gonorrhoea were found in 3.2% of women, positive syphilis serology in 1.9%, and positive trichomonas microscopy in 5.2%. Genital ulcers were found in 1.9% of women. Although unmarried status and reporting more than one sex partner in the previous year were both significantly associated with each disease in the crude analysis, these associations were attenuated after controlling for each other and for other risk factors. The population attributable risks (PARs) for these factors were low (7-16%) owing to the high proportion of cases who were married and monogamous. The majority of women with microbiological evidence of infection had normal pelvic examinations. Clinical diagnostic algorithms for STDs in this population had a low sensitivity and positive predictive value. Nevertheless, a strong association between HIV seropositivity and STDs was observed. CONCLUSION: The low population attributable risks found in this study suggest that behaviour change messages directed to women, particularly if they are married have a low potential for preventing STDs. The poor performance of clinical diagnostic algorithms illustrates the desirability of testing these algorithms in a variety of populations and reinforces the need for low-cost methods of microbiologic diagnosis if populations with relatively low prevalences of these infections are to be included in programmes to diagnose and treat STDs.

Adolescent↗

Trends in sexually transmitted diseases and condom use patterns among commercial sex workers in Fukuoka City, Japan 1990-93.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate trends in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among female commercial sex workers and in their condom use patterns during the period from 1990 to 1993 in Fukuoka, Japan. METHODS: The study group consisted of a total of 824 commercial sex workers who attended an STD clinic to undergo screening for STDs including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, hepatitis B and HIV-1 infection during the period from 1990 to 1993. For detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, endocervical smear specimens were taken from the women. Blood samples were obtained for serological diagnosis of syphilis, hepatitis B and HIV-1. Commercial sex workers who visited the clinic during the period from November to December of 1993 were interviewed concerning past (1990 and 1991) and recent (1992 and 1993) condom use patterns. RESULTS: The annual detection rates of C trachomatis and N gonorrhoeae declined significantly from 16.3% in 1990 to 12.2% in 1993 (P < 0.0001) and from 1.5% in 1990 to 0.8% in 1993 (P = 0.0096), respectively. There was a remarkable reduction in the annual syphilis infection rate, from 7.5% in 1990 to 0.5% in 1993 (P = 0.0011). The positive rate for the hepatitis B surface antigen in the women ranged from only 0.6% to 1.9% and none were found to be positive for HIV-1 during the 4-year period. During the same period, there was a significant increase in the proportion of commercial sex workers always using condoms from 6.3% in 1990-91 to 25.3% in 1992-93 (P = 0.0023). CONCLUSION: The prevalences of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis infections decreased significantly among commercial sex workers in Fukuoka from 1990 through 1993, and no commercial sex workers were HIV-1 seropositive. The reductions in the prevalence of major STDs may be related to the increased use of condoms.

Adolescent↗

Endometrial reaction to intrauterine device in pregnancy.

It is generally assumed that the intrauterine device (IUD) exerts its action by altering endometrial receptivity for the implanting embryo. The most frequently encountered endometrial reaction reported in the presence of an IUD is a chronic inflammatory reaction which may be responsible for the alterations in the normal physiology of the human endometrium. In order to evaluate the endometrial response to the IUD when pregnancy occurs with the device in situ, we have examined the morphology of decidual tissue obtained during interruptions of pregnancy of 32 patients who had conceived in the presence of IUDs. Twenty-three decidual specimens, obtained during interruption of pregnancies without an IUD, served as controls. The incidence of chronic inflammatory reaction was 6.25% in the presence of an IUD and 4.34% in the control group. The incidence of chronic endometritis reported in nonpregnant IUD users is higher (14-100%) than the incidence of chronic endometritis observed in both groups. This observation may be the result of the generally observed alterations in the immune system during a normal pregnancy, but may also be interpreted as a primary reduced endometrial reaction to the IUD, consequently leading to the contraceptive failure in this group.

Adult↗

Incidence of sexually transmitted diseases among massage parlour employees in Bangkok, Thailand.

The results of a study of sexually transmitted disease (STD) incidence and related risk factors for STDs among uninfected women at high risk of contracting STD infection in Bangkok are reported. Comprising the control arm of a randomized controlled trial of a vaginal contraceptive sponge and STD incidence, 163 women aged 18 or older were recruited from 4 massage parlours and followed for evidence of new infections over a 6-week period or until cervical infection occurred. Gynaecological examinations were performed and endocervical specimens were obtained at weekly intervals, at which time women returned coital logs recording their number of sexual partners. There were 76.5 new STD infections per 100 woman-months, including 31.7 with gonorrhoea, 43.1 with chlamydia, 1.8 of trichomoniasis and 3.5 of candidiasis. None of the risk factors examined were good predictors of STD infection in this population, which may be related to the restricted admission criteria in the study.

Adolescent↗

Employment and contextual impact of safe and unsafe sexual practices for STI and HIV: the situation in China.

China's dual employment system plays a crucial role in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV-related safe and unsafe sexual practices among young Chinese people. Social and psychological determinants of safe and unsafe sexual practices for HIV infection among young people in Sichuan, China were examined. Our findings indicate that changes in China's social structure and employment system impact upon the social contextual involvement and socio-sexual practice of young Chinese people. The findings in the study suggest that the employment-related contextual involvement was a major predictor in the relationships between demography, information, and psychological risk-taking factors on one hand and the people's safe and unsafe sexual practices on the other. Self-employed people (officially called 'getihu') were more likely than the state-employed people to engage in unprotected sex with casual sexual partners. As China undergoes social restructuring and many state-employed people are laid off, the risk may also extend into the broader non-self-employed population as more state-employed people become involved not only in the self-employed getihu's socioeconomic activities but also in their unconventional socio-sexual practices. Collective vulnerability to STI and HIV, due to the current socio-sexual practices of the getihu young people, has created a new frontier for STI and HIV prevention in today's China, as well as demonstrating the importance of collective action with STI and AIDS prevention strategies within relevant social and sub-cultural contexts.

Adolescent↗

HIV-1 infection in a Ugandan town on the trans-African highway: prevalence and risk factors.

All adult residents (aged 13 years or more) of 154 randomly selected households in 3 urban and one semi-rural ward of a town in South West Uganda on the trans-African highway were invited to participate in a socio-demographic, behavioural and medical survey. An unambiguous HIV-1 serostatus was obtained for 389 (80%) adults. The overall sero-prevalence rate was 40.4%; all age groups except males aged 13-19 years had infection rates in excess of 20%. Rates above 50% were found in females aged 20-34 years and males aged 35-44 years. For females seropositivity rates increased steeply with increasing numbers of lifetime sexual partners up to a maximum of 3; in contrast, for males rates continued to increase with increasing numbers of partners. The risk of infection amongst those with only one reported partner was 17%. A high proportion of males (14%) and females (18%) reported a history of genital ulcer disease within the previous 6 months; on examination genital lesions were observed in 12% of all participants. Interventions with a single focus are unlikely to have much impact in such a situation and a strategy is suggested which includes 3 components, namely improved STD control, a reduction in partner change and an increase in condom utilization.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗

Genital ulcer disease among STD clinic attenders in Nairobi: association with HIV-1 and circumcision status.

In previous studies, genital ulcers in men have been found to be associated with increased risk of HIV-1 seroconversion. To further explore this association male patients attending a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in Nairobi for either urethritis (controls, n = 276) or a genital ulcer (cases, n = 607) were compared with respect to sexual behaviour, presence of HIV-1 antibody and circumcision status. Patients were followed to study risk factors for incident genital ulcers and HIV-1 seroconversion. At entry, being married was associated with higher prevalence of HIV-1 (OR = 1.76) and genital ulcers (OR = 1.42). Lack of circumcision was associated with both HIV-1 infection (OR = 4.67) and the presence of a genital ulcer (OR = 2.23). Genital ulcers were also associated with HIV-1 infection (OR = 1.87) independent of circumcision status. On follow-up, HIV-1 seropositivity was associated with incident genital ulcers. It is argued that the association between genital ulcers and HIV-1 infection may be more complex than ulcers simply being a risk factor for HIV-1 infection, and that HIV-1 infection may either increase the risk of acquiring a genital ulcer, or HIV-1 infection and genital ulcers may have some unknown risk factor in common.

Adult↗

Patterns of sexually transmitted diseases in female sex workers in Surabaya, Indonesia.

Sex workers and their clients as core groups of high frequency transmitters play a dominant role in the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). In Surabaya, Indonesia, little is known about the prevalence of STDs in various sex establishments. We conducted an STD prevalence survey of 1873 female sex workers in Surabaya, Indonesia. We did not find any sex workers with HIV infection. Prevalence rates of other STDs (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, serological test for syphilis positive, and/or trichomoniasis) in female sex workers were 48% in brothels (n = 696), 42% on the streets (n = 192), 16% in massage parlours (n = 344), 25% in barber shops (n = 150), 17% at call-girl houses (n = 73), and 10% in nightclubs (n = 418). Sex workers from the brothels had the highest prevalence rates of gonorrhoea (24%) and trichomoniasis (8%), while sex workers from the streets and the barber shop had the highest rates of serological test for syphilis (STS) positive (30%) and chlamydia (18%). STD rates decreased with an increase in age (except for STS positive), an increase in education, a decrease in the number of sex partners, and condom use in the previous week. Condom use in the previous week was universally low among sex workers, especially among sex workers from the brothels (14%). Sex workers from the brothels had STD rates about 4 times higher than sex workers from the nightclubs (adjusted odds ratio of 4.4). Although the HIV seroprevalence rate is currently low, widespread prostitution and high rates of STDs in sex workers warrant programmes to avert a potential explosion of HIV transmission. Because sex workers from the brothels in Surabaya have high rates of STDs and low use of condoms but good cooperation with local authorities, STD preventive measures should focus on this group.

Adolescent↗

HIV infection and sexually transmitted infections in Lithuania.

Lithuania is a small country with a population of 3.7 million. It has recently been released from the yoke of Soviet rule. HIV infection was first identified in 1988 and while the numbers of cases are small, the incidence is beginning to rise precipitously. A National AIDS Centre has been established in the capital, Vilnius, and a nationwide epidemiological survey is underway. Efforts are being made to prevent HIV infection. Sixty one per cent of notified cases of HIV infection are in Klaipéda, a port city adjacent to the Kaliningrad region and the predominant mode of transmission is by intravenous drug use. The majority of cases of AIDS, however, are seen in Vilnius. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are poorly controlled and there is no national control strategy. While the incidence of gonorrhoea is declining, new cases of syphilis have been on the increase, reaching 101.4 cases per 100,000 of the population. Cases of congenital syphilis are still seen.

Adolescent↗

Does the hygroscopic property of the laminaria tent imply a risk for ascending infection in legal abortions? A microbiological study.

In 53 women admitted for first-trimester abortion, the cervical canal was dilated with laminaria tents prior to vacuum aspiration. Before insertion of the tents, endocervical specimens were taken for microbiological investigations, including Chlamydia trachomatis, and both aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms. The laminaria tents, widened by their hygroscopic properties, were removed just before the vacuum aspiration and sent for cultivation of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms. The Gram-positive aerobic cocci, Staph. epidermidis, Strept. faecalis and Strept. agalactiae as well as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella/Enterobacter were the most frequent microorganism among the aerobic isolates from the endocervices as well as from the laminaria tents. These microorganisms were identified on the tents in greater numbers than in the cervices. Staph. aureus was isolated from three laminaria tents, but only one of these 3 women was proved to be primarily colonized endocervically. Among the anaerobes, Bacteroidaceae followed by peptococci and peptostreptococci were the predominant genera found in the cervix as well as on the removed laminaria tents. These three groups of anaerobic microorganisms were found markedly less frequently on the laminaria tents than in the endocervix. On the other hand, Strept. intermedius, another anaerobe of possible enteric origin, was recovered from 9 laminaria tents but not in the cervices. Since no cases of clinically verified endometritis/salpingitis were registered in the present study it is concluded that the risk of a pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) due to the laminaria tent is negligible as long as the laminaria treatment does not exceed 24 hours.

Abortion, Induced↗

Mobiluncus and clue cells as predictors of PID after first-trimester abortion.

Women attending our Department for a first-trimester abortion were examined for the presence of Mobiluncus species. C. trachomatis or clue cells in vaginal discharge in an attempt to identify risk groups for development of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) after first-trimester abortion. A correlation was found between the presence of Mobiluncus and clue cells in vaginal discharge and the incidence of PID after first-trimester abortions. These women were also older than those in whom C. trachomatis was identified. Our study indicates that screening for C. trachomatis and clue cells in vaginal discharge will identify two different risk groups for developing PID after first-trimester abortion.

Abortion, Induced↗