International Journal of STD & AIDS > Volume 18, Number 1 > Pp. 55-57

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Arumainayagam, J Articles by Chandramani, S Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Original research articles

Syphilis outbreak in Walsall, UK: lessons for control and prevention

J Arumainayagam, M J Pallan, E Buckley, R N Pugh, D G White, I A Morrall, C Morris and S Chandramani

Department of HIV and Genitourinary Medicine, Manor Hospital NHS Trust, Walsall, UK; Directorate of Public Health, Walsall Teaching Primary Care Trust, Walsall, UK; Centre for Health Psychology, Staffordshine University, Stoke-on-Trent, Walsall, UK; Directorate of Public Health, Walsall Teaching Primary Care Trust, Walsall, UK; Centre for Health Psychology, Staffordshine University, Stoke-on-Trent, Walsall, UK; Department of HIV and Genitourinary Medicine, Manor Hospital NHS Trust, Walsall, UK; Centre for Health Psychology, Staffordshine University, Stoke-on-Trent, Walsall, UK; Men's Health Project, Lichfield Street, Walsall, UK; Department of HIV and Genitourinary Medicine, Manor Hospital NHS Trust, Walsall, UK

An assessment of risk-taking behaviour among men who have sex with men (MSM) attending a sauna venue was undertaken, using a standardized questionnaire, after which outreach screening was introduced targeting MSM. The epidemiology of the continuing outbreak of syphilis was reviewed to determine the factors driving the outbreak and assess the benefit of continuing outreach screening. Findings among the 163 respondents at the sauna included a high rate of casual sex and a tendency not to disclose HIV status. Over 12 months, 51 cases of early syphilis were recorded. Our review showed a decline in incidence in MSM after outreach screening, but an increase in heterosexual spread. Given the frequent anonymous nature of syphilis transmission, traditional contact tracing is ineffective. Outreach screening is required at gay venues and other community settings to target at-risk populations.

Key Words: SYPHILIS • SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (STIS) • EPIDEMIOLOGY • MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN (MSM) • COMMERCIAL SEX WORKER (CSW)

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?