Testing of HIV Patients for BSTIs: Recommended but Not Performed

Guidelines recommend testing for bacterial sexually transmitted infections (BSTIs) each year for sexually active HIV-infected patients and two to four times yearly for those with risky sexual behaviors. Using data from the nationwide Medical Monitoring Project, investigators from the CDC examined the frequency of BSTI testing among sexually active HIV-infected patients in 2009.

Of the 4217 patients sampled, 2640 reported sexual activity during the preceding 12 months, including 1000 deemed as having an elevated sexual risk. Among sexually active patients, elevated risk was more common among men who have sex with men (66%) than among men who have sex with women (42%) or among women (40%). Fifty-five percent of sexually active patients had rec…