Nathan Ryder

A New Multidrug-Resistant Strain of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Australia

A young woman with a vaginal discharge was found by means of sensitivity testing and genetic analysis to have ceftriaxone-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The infection did not respond to ceftriaxone but was treated successfully with ceftriaxone plus azithromycin.

Increasing role of herpes simplex virus type 1 in first-episode anogenital herpes in heterosexual women and younger men who have sex with men, 1992–2006

Objectives: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 is causing an increasing proportion of anogenital herpes; however, it is unclear which populations are affected. We describe the contribution of HSV-1 to first-episode anogenital herpes and its associations. Methods: For all cases of first-episode anogenital herpes diagnosed at the Sydney Sexual Health Centre from 1992 to 2006, medical record review was used to confirm the type and anatomical site. Age, sex, HIV status and sexual behaviour data were extracted from the clinic database. Results: Overall, among 1845 confirmed cases of first-episode anogenital herpes the proportion attributable to HSV-1 increased from 29% to 42% (odds ratio (OR) per 3-year band 1.19; 95% CI 1.11 to 1.27). When stratified by gender of sexual partners the proportion of first-episode anogenital herpes due to HSV-1 increased over time, but only achieved significance in heterosexual women (p<0.01). Among men who have sex with men (MSM), HSV-1 only increased for those less than 28 years of age, 17% in 1992–4 to 76% in 2004–6 (OR per 3-year band 1.58; 95% CI 1.14 to 2.19). The proportion attributable to HSV-1 was higher for anal than genital herpes and MSM were much more likely to have anal disease. Conclusions: The proportion of first-episode anogenital herpes due to HSV-1 significantly increased among younger MSM and heterosexual women over the 15-year period. In some clinical populations, such as young MSM and women or patients with anal disease, HSV-1 may now account for the majority of first-episode anogenital herpes.

Is azithromycin adequate treatment for asymptomatic rectal chlamydia

Rectal chlamydia is a common sexually transmissible infection (STI) in men who have sex with men (MSM) that is predominantly asymptomatic. The recommended treatment of azithromycin 1 g as a single oral dose has not been subject to randomized trials and so its efficacy is unknown. We conducted a retrospective case-note review of all MSM diagnosed at the Sydney Sexual Health Centre with asymptomatic rectal chlamydia in 2009. We identified 116 MSM who received azithromycin; 85 (73%) attended for the recommended re-test at varying times (median 78 days, range 21–372 days). Of the men who returned, 11 (13%) had a persistently positive result; we reviewed behavioural data to classify these men as probable re-infections (6/11) or possible treatment failures (5/11), suggesting an efficacy of 94%. Until a randomized controlled trial (RCT) is conducted, patients with rectal chlamydia should be encouraged to attend for a re-test at 6–12 weeks.

Clinical audit: adherence to sexually transmitted infection screening guidelines for men who have sex with men.

Australian guidelines recommend regular screening of men who have sex with men (MSM) for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This audit was performed to determine STI testing rates in Sydney Sexual Health Centre before and after the development of the guidelines, and to describe characteristics of those not tested. The electronic clinic database and a manual file review were used to determine testing rates and reasons for not testing for the years 2000 and 2002. Overall testing rates were high, with 61% of MSM having had all recommended tests within the past year in 2002. There was a significant increase in testing rates for most tests after the development of the guidelines. Asymptomatic men were more likely to be tested than symptomatic men, and HIV-positive men were less likely to be tested for syphilis.

Completeness and timeliness of treatment for chlamydia within a sexual health service

Prompt treatment of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection will reduce the duration of infectiousness and further transmission of infection. In 2002, an audit was conducted to assess the completeness and timeliness of treatment for uncomplicated chlamydial infection at the Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Australia. Over a nine-month period, chlamydia was diagnosed in 250 patients, 97% of whom received appropriate treatment. The median duration between initial attendance and treatment was two days. Prompt delivery of treatment was facilitated by: initial treatment of patients likely to be chlamydia-infected; rapid availability of test results; urgent communication of positive test results; and effective procedures for recalling untreated patients.

New Xpress sexually transmissible infection screening clinic improves patient journey and clinic capacity at a large sexual health clinic.

Introduction In December 2010, a new “express” testing service (Xpress) was implemented alongside routine clinics at a large sexual health clinic. Xpress involved a computer-assisted self-interview, self-collected samples and enrolled nurse staffing. We evaluated the impact of the service on patient journey, staff costs, and clinical capacity. Methods In the first 5 months of Xpress, we calculated the median waiting time and length of stay, staff hours and costs, and utilization. We compared these attributes to the same months in the previous year. Results In the Xpress period, 5335 patients were seen (705 in the Xpress clinic, 4630 in routine clinic), 11% more than the 4804 in the before period. Staff hours were 13% greater in the Xpress period compared with the before period (3567 vs. 3151). The cost per patient seen in the Xpress period was lower compared with the before period (

Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in urban Sydney women: prevalence and predictors

26.79 compared with

Increased Syphilis Testing of Men Who Have Sex With Men: Greater Detection of Asymptomatic Early Syphilis and Relative Reduction in Secondary Syphilis

28.48). The median waiting time in the Xpress period was 19 minutes (interquartile range, 8–36; 10 in Xpress clinic and 17 in routine clinics) compared with 23 in the before period (P < 0.01). The median length of stay in the Xpress period was 40 minutes (interquartile range, 27–58; 21 in Xpress clinic and 40 in routine clinics) compared with 43 in the before period (P < 0.01). The utilization rates were 67% in the Xpress period (40% in the Xpress clinic and 74% in routine clinics) compared with 76% in the before period (P < 0.01). Conclusion The Xpress clinic improved the patient journey, and although not fully used, more patients were seen overall in the clinic with minimal additional costs. Marketing of the Xpress clinic is underway.

Effectiveness of using Grindr to increase syphilis testing among men who have sex with men in Darwin, Australia

BACKGROUND The notification rate of female gonorrhoea in urban Sydney is very low. With the increasing use of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), demonstrating a low prevalence of gonorrhoea in women would have important implications for the reliability of positive results. We determined the prevalence of female cervical gonorrhoea in our urban sexual health clinic and identified associated clinical, behavioural and demographic variables that may allow more targeted screening practices. METHODS The Sydney Sexual Health Centre database was used to identify women tested for cervical gonorrhoea between 1997 and 2007. Diagnostic, demographic and behavioural information were extracted to ascertain the prevalence of gonorrhoea and describe variables associated with infection. Additionally, a case control study was conducted of cervical gonorrhoea cases from January 2000 to December 2005, with two gonorrhoea negative women selected for each case as controls. A blinded researcher examined each medical record to determine genital symptoms, being a contact of gonorrhoea, sex work, sex outside of Australia, injecting drug use. RESULTS Between 1997 and 2007, 77 women were diagnosed with cervical gonorrhoea, a prevalence of 0.37%. Results of the case control study reveal that women with gonorrhoea were more likely to be symptomatic [odds ratio (OR) 3.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7-8.4], be a known contact of gonorrhoea (OR 264, 95% CI 149-470), or have had recent sex overseas, or with a partner from overseas (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.11-2.75). CONCLUSION Cervical gonorrhoea infection is rare in our urban sexual health clinic, and even more unlikely in asymptomatic women without risk factors. This low prevalence of gonorrhoea, particularly in asymptomatic women, decreases the reliability of positive NAAT test results. This has important implications for the screening of asymptomatic women presenting to urban sexual health clinics in Australia.

Different trends for different sexually transmissible infections despite increased testing of men who have sex with men.

Background Syphilis rates have increased markedly among men who have sex with men (MSM) internationally. We examined trends in syphilis testing and detection of early syphilis among MSM in Australia. Methods Serial cross-sectional analyses on syphilis testing and diagnoses among MSM attending a national sentinel network of 46 clinics in Australia between 2007 and 2014. Results 359313 clinic visits were included. The proportion of MSM serologically tested for syphilis annually increased in HIV-negative (48% to 91%; Ptrend < .0001) and HIV-positive MSM (42% to 77%; Ptrend < .0001). The mean number of tests per man per year increased from 1.3 to 1.6 in HIV-negative MSM (Ptrend < .0001) and from 1.6 to 2.3 in HIV-positive MSM (Ptrend < .0001). 2799 and 1032 syphilis cases were detected in HIV-negative and HIV-positive MSM, respectively. Among HIV-negative MSM, the proportion of infections that were early latent increased from 27% to 44% (Ptrend < .0001), while the proportion that were secondary decreased from 24% to 19% (Ptrend = .030). Among HIV-positive MSM, early latent infections increased from 23% to 45% (Ptrend < .0001), while secondary infections decreased from 45% to 26% (Ptrend = .0003). Among HIV-positive MSM, decreasing secondary syphilis correlated with increasing testing coverage (r = -0.87; P = .005) or frequency (r = -0.93; P = .001). Conclusions Increases in syphilis screening were associated with increased detection of asymptomatic infectious syphilis and relative falls in secondary syphilis for both HIV-positive and HIV-negative MSM nationally, suggesting interruption of syphilis progression.