Prevalence of asymptomatic bacterial sexually transmitted infections in hospitalized HIV patients in Baltimore city

Aimee Hodowanec, Seema Nayak, Manhattan Charurat, Leroy Vaughan, Mettassebia Kanno, Lori Fantry

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are known to promote the transmission of HIV. Diagnosing these infections can identify patients engaging in high-risk behaviors and provides an opportunity for intervention and education. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends STI screening as part of routine HIV care. Ninety HIV-infected inpatients admitted to the University of Maryland Hospital were screened for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis. None of the nucleic acid amplification probes were positive for gonorrhea, and 1 was positive for chlamydia. A total of 8 rapid plasma reagin (RPR) tests were positive, 2 of which are believed to be associated with new infection or treatment failure. Rapid plasma reagin positivity was found to be associated with men who have sex with men (MSM), low CD4 count, and high HIV viral load. Routine inpatient screening for asymptomatic STIs in HIV-infected patients may be beneficial, particularly patients not engaged in routine outpatient care.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)16-19
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care
Volume11
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • HIV
  • STD
  • gonorrhea
  • screening
  • syphilis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology
  • Dermatology
  • Infectious Diseases

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