Antibiotic resistance among sexually transmitted infections: perspectives from clinical practice
We present two cases of men who have sex with men (MSM) in care at the Infectious Diseases Unit, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan diagnosed with multidrug-resistant (MDR) STIs. Both presented with complaints of urethral discharge and were engaged in receptive/insertive sexual intercourse with >10 partners monthly, with seldom condom use. The first case is an injecting-drug user with history of hepatitis B and C virus coinfection diagnosed in 2013 with ceftriaxone-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) proctitis, and ciprofloxacin-resistant and azithromycin-resistant Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) u...
Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections - October 21, 2022 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Raccagni, A. R., Bruzzesi, E., Cernuschi, M., Galli, L., Alberton, F., Mancini, N., Castagna, A., Nozza, S. Tags: PostScript Source Type: research

Exploring the effectiveness of an online sexual health workshop on sexual and relationship beliefs and HIV/STI prevention knowledge among Singaporean youth
In Singapore, sexual education programmes have traditionally placed strong focus on abstinence1; however, abstinence-only sexual education has shown to be ineffective in other settings.2 Here, we report on an online sexual health education workshop targeted to Singapore citizens or permanent residents 18–29 years old who identified as either women, heterosexual men, or gay, bisexual and queer (GBQ) men. Participants were targeted through the community-based organisation, Action for AIDS Singapore’s mailing list, and were able to register their interest for the workshop through an enrolment survey embedded in th...
Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections - October 21, 2022 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Yong, X. M., Banerjee, S., Lin, J., Nah, T., Tan, M., Tyler, A., Tong, F. Y., Tan, R. K. J. Tags: Research letter Source Type: research

Trichoscopy of syphilitic alopecia: a systematic review
To the Editor: Secondary syphilis may manifest as syphilitic alopecia (SA), a non-scarring alopecia with a prevalence ranging from 3% to 22%.1 Examination of the hair using a dermatoscope, a non-invasive bedside test known as trichoscopy, may help differentiate SA from other forms of hair loss.2 3 This systematic review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to summarise published data on trichoscopic findings of SA (PROSPERO CRD42018092159). Details of the searches (from inception to 22 April 2021), study selection, data extraction and quality assessment are provided in and ...
Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections - October 21, 2022 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Sun, H. Y., Wong, X. L., Chen, M. K. Y., Sebaratnam, D. F. Tags: Research letter Source Type: research

COVID-19 impact on bacterial sexually transmitted infections in England between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the delivery of healthcare services, including sexual health services (SHS) in England. Many SHS remained open for urgent or complex cases, but at reduced capacity; meanwhile, the use of online and telephone services increased to meet the continued demand for STI services.1 We compared trends in testing and diagnoses for bacterial STIs in England throughout different periods of COVID-19 restrictions during 2020 with the equivalent prepandemic data for 2019. National data for England on tests and diagnoses for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis (primary, secondary and early latent stages)...
Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections - October 21, 2022 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Charles, H., Ratna, N., Thorn, L., Sonubi, T., Sun, S., Mohammed, H., Folkard, K., Sinka, K. Tags: Open access, COVID-19 Research letter Source Type: research

Increasing human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination uptake in people living with HIV: the need to improve both clinician training and health promotion
Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination is recommended for some people living with HIV (PLWHIV) including men who have sex with men (MSM) up to 45 years old.1 HIV clinics are well placed to deliver HPV vaccination due to patients’ regular attendance for routine monitoring and other health interventions. There is little recent evidence on the uptake and barriers to HPV vaccination in PLWHIV.2 A recent meta-analysis suggested that MSM are receptive to HPV vaccination, but vaccine uptake and completion are below prediction, and additional support and resources are needed to provide optimal vaccination rates.3 Uptake of ...
Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections - October 21, 2022 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Ringshall, M., Cable, C., Fitzpatrick, C., Richardson, D. Tags: Research letter Source Type: research

Access to, usage and clinical outcomes of, online postal sexually transmitted infection services: a scoping review
Conclusion OPSS services appear highly acceptable to users. However, uptake appears to be socially patterned and some groups who bear a disproportionate burden of poor sexual health in the UK are under-represented among users. Current provision of online self-sampling could widen health inequalities, particularly where other options for testing are limited. Work is needed to fully evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of OPSS services. (Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections)
Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections - October 21, 2022 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Sumray, K., Lloyd, K. C., Estcourt, C. S., Burns, F., Gibbs, J. Tags: Open access Review Source Type: research

Changes in the time of COVID-19: a quality improvement initiative to maintain services at a youth sexual health clinic
Conclusions Quality improvement PDSA initiatives at AYA sexual health clinics, particularly those for underserved youth, can be used to adapt service delivery when normal operating models are disrupted. The ability for youth sexual health clinics to adapt to a changing healthcare landscape will be crucial in ensuring that under-resourced youth are able to receive needed services and ambitious Ending the HIV Epidemic goals are achieved. (Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections)
Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections - October 21, 2022 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Lim, A. C., Venkatesh, M., Lewald, D. L., Emmanuel, P. J., Sanders, L. Tags: COVID-19 Short reports Source Type: research

Factors associated with low levels of HIV testing among young men who have sex with men (MSM) participating in EMIS-2017 in Spain
Conclusion Young MSM showed low HIV testing rate. Future programming specifically targeting this population, especially those middle adolescents, living in a medium-small city and having less ‘outness’, can help increase HIV testing and prevent access barriers. (Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections)
Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections - October 21, 2022 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Gallego, N., Diaz, A., Folch, C., Meyer, S., Vazquez, M., Casabona, J., Hernando, V. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Impact of the early 2020 COVID-19 crisis and lockdown on PrEP use among men who have sex with men (MSM) in France
Conclusions MSM adapted PrEP use to their sexual activity during and after the French lockdown. After the lockdown, discontinued PrEP occurred more often among MSM who had fewer sexual partners and had mental health vulnerabilities. These factors could also be predictive of PrEP discontinuation in a more general context. PrEP users should be informed on how to safely stop/start PrEP and on the use of other prevention tools to reduce potential risk exposure during PrEP discontinuation. (Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections)
Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections - October 21, 2022 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Di Ciaccio, M., Villes, V., Michels, D., Morel, S., Delabre, R. M., Rojas Castro, D., Velter, A. Tags: COVID-19 Original research Source Type: research

Vaginal microbiota in ethnically diverse young women who did or did not develop pelvic inflammatory disease: community-based prospective study
Conclusions In the first-ever community-based prospective study of PID, there was no clear association between the vaginal microbiome and subsequent development of PID. Future studies using serial samples may identify vaginal microbial communities that may predispose to PID. (Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections)
Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections - October 21, 2022 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Kerry-Barnard, S., Zhou, L., Phillips, L., Furegato, M., Witney, A. A., Sadiq, S. T., Oakeshott, P. Tags: Open access Original research Source Type: research

Mental health and implications for antiretroviral adherence in a multiethnic Asian cohort
Conclusion Significant psychological distress occurring early in HIV care predicts future non-adherence to antiretroviral treatment, highlighting the importance of early detection and intervention for psychological distress in people living with HIV. Mental health interventions should be intercalated with treatment adherence interventions to improve HIV treatment outcomes. (Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections)
Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections - October 21, 2022 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Dhaliwal, J. S., Chan, L. G., Goh, J. C. B., Koh, K. H. E., Wong, C. S. Tags: Open access Original research Source Type: research

Association between rectal gonorrhoea and HIV incidence in men who have sex with men: a meta-analysis
Background Incidence of rectal gonorrhoea (GC) has been hypothesised as a correlate of HIV exposure in prevention trials of men who have sex with men (MSM). High rectal GC incidence in MSM trials of new biomedical prevention drugs may provide supportive evidence for ongoing HIV risk. Empirical evidence of correlation between rectal GC and HIV incidence is needed to assess whether high rectal GC rates reliably correlate with high risk of HIV. Methods Rectal GC and HIV are routinely tested in sexual health clinics (SHCs) throughout England. Through routine surveillance data collected at visits to SHCs, we assessed HIV incid...
Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections - October 21, 2022 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Donnell, D., Zewdie, K., Ratna, N., Miller, V., Saunders, J. M., Gill, O. N., Delpech, V., Mohammed, H. Tags: Open access, Editor's choice Original research Source Type: research

Prevalence of curable STIs and bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Conclusion The prevalence of curable STIs and BV in sub-Saharan Africa is substantial in pregnant women but most prevalent in Southern Africa where HIV prevalence is highest. It is crucial to integrate screening of curable STIs into antenatal care programmes that have previously focused on diagnosis and treatment of syphilis and HIV. (Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections)
Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections - October 21, 2022 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Nyemba, D. C., Haddison, E. C., Wang, C., Johnson, L. F., Myer, L., Davey, D. J. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Demographics and incidence of anal squamous cell carcinoma in people living in high HIV prevalence geographical areas
Conclusions Patients presenting with ASCC in high HIV geographical areas have different demographics to patients presenting in average HIV geographical areas. This may be related to screening programmes for PLWH in high HIV areas. (Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections)
Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections - October 21, 2022 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Brogden, D. R. L., Kontovounisios, C., Mandalia, S., Tekkis, P., Mills, S. C. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Impacts of COVID-19 on sexual behaviour in Britain: findings from a large, quasi-representative survey (Natsal-COVID)
Conclusions Our quasi-representative study of the British population found a substantial minority reported significant shifts in sexual repertoires, frequency and satisfaction following the introduction of COVID-19 restrictions. However, these negative changes were perceived by some more than others; predominantly those not cohabiting and the young. As these groups are most likely to experience adverse sexual health, it is important to monitor behaviour as restrictions ease to understand the longer term consequences, including for health services. (Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections)
Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections - October 21, 2022 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Mercer, C. H., Clifton, S., Riddell, J., Tanton, C., Freeman, L., Copas, A. J., Dema, E., Boso Perez, R., Gibbs, J., Macdowall, W., Menezes, D., Ridge, M.-C., Bonell, C., Sonnenberg, P., Field, N., Mitchell, K. R. Tags: Open access, COVID-19 Original research Source Type: research