Data from: Syphilis infection among homosexual men reporting contact with syphilis: a case control study

OBJECTIVE: High rates of syphilis have been reported among men who have sex with men (MSM) internationally. Guidelines recommend presumptive treatment of sexual contacts of individuals with syphilis at the point of care. The aim of this study was to determine among men reporting contact with a man with syphilis the proportion who were infected with syphilis and the factors predictive of infection. DESIGN: Contacts who were syphilis infected (cases) were compared with those who were uninfected (controls). SETTING: This study was conducted at the main public sexually transmitted diseases clinic in Victoria, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and seventy two MSM presenting as sexual contacts of men with syphilis at a sexual health service in Melbourne, Australia, between July 2007 and October 2011 were assessed for syphilis. OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of MSM who are infected with syphilis and factors associated with infection. RESULTS: Of 172 men who presented reporting contact with syphilis, 26 (15%, 95% CI: 10-20%) had syphilis. One man had primary syphilis, four had secondary syphilis, while the remaining 21 had early latent syphilis. Infection was associated with unprotected anal sex over the prior 3 months (adjusted odds ratio 6.1, 95% CI 1.4-26.8). CONCLUSION: One in seven men presenting as contacts of syphilis had syphilis infection, most of whom were latently infected. Contacts reporting recent unprotected anal sex were more likely to have syphilis.

研究目的：全球范围内男男性行为者（men who have sex with men, MSM）的梅毒感染率居高不下，临床指南推荐在诊疗现场为梅毒患者的性接触者提供预防性治疗。本研究旨在明确报告与梅毒男性患者存在性接触的男男性行为者的梅毒感染比例，以及感染的预测因素。
研究设计：将梅毒感染者（病例组）与未感染者（对照组）进行对照比较。
研究场所：本研究在澳大利亚维多利亚州的公立性病专科主诊所开展。
研究对象：2007年7月至2011年10月期间，澳大利亚墨尔本某性健康服务机构中，172名作为梅毒男性患者性接触者就诊的男男性行为者，均接受了梅毒感染评估。
结局指标：男男性行为者的梅毒感染比例，以及与感染相关的影响因素。
研究结果：在172名报告梅毒接触史的男性中，26名（15%，95%置信区间[CI]：10~20%）检出梅毒感染。其中1例为一期梅毒，4例为二期梅毒，剩余21例为早期潜伏梅毒。梅毒感染与近3个月内无保护肛交行为显著相关（校正比值比6.1，95%CI：1.4~26.8）。
研究结论：每7名梅毒接触者中即有1名存在梅毒感染，其中多数为潜伏感染。报告近期存在无保护肛交行为的接触者，梅毒感染风险更高。