HIV Incidence Among Men with Early Syphilis: A Tale of Three Cities

Among men diagnosed with early syphilis at STD clinics in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, HIV incidence was estimated to be 9.5% per year overall and 12.0% per year for MSM.

Having syphilis increases the risk for acquiring and transmitting HIV infection. Syphilis outbreaks in several cities among men who have sex with men (MSM) have raised concerns that HIV infection rates in this population might rise (MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2003; 52:1229). To estimate the incidence of HIV infection in men newly diagnosed with early syphilis, investigators analyzed remnant serum specimens and deidentified epidemiologic data that were gathered at STD clinics in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and San Francisco between 2004 and early 2006.

Specimens were available from 457 men with early syphilis (primary, secondary, or early latent disease); 80% of these men were MSM. The prevalence of Western blot–confirmed HIV infection was 41% among…

Reviewing Author

Sonia Nagy Chimienti, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Sonia Nagy Chimienti, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

HIV Incidence Among Men with Early Syphilis: A Tale of Three Cities

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Reviewing Author