Syphilis coinfection in individuals living with HIV: tertiary university hospital data

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the coinfection of syphilis in HIV-positive individuals and the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of these patients. Material and methods: Our study was conducted in Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, between 13.02.2018 and 13.02.2024, in 26 patients with clinically and laboratory-confirmed syphilis co-infection among 142 HIV/AIDS patients who were followed up and confirmed in the infectious diseases and clinical microbiology outpatient clinic. Results: A total of 142 HIV positive and 26 (18.3%) syphilis coinfected patients between the ages of 17-77 were included in the study. The mean ages of the infected and syphilis coinfected patients were 39.1 and 41.07, respectively. Six (23%) of the coinfected patients were married, the remaining 14 (53.8%) were single or divorced, five had multiple partners; 20 (77%) were heterosexual, four (15%) were men who have sex with men (MSM), and two (8%) were bisexual. Simultaneous HIV/syphilis positivity was detected in 14 (54%) of the coinfected patients at the time of diagnosis, while 7 (27%) were detected during the HIV treatment follow-up period, and 5 (19%) were detected before HIV diagnosis. Of the patients with coinfection, five (19.2%) had primary syphilis, 10 (38.5%) had latent syphilis, and 11 (42.3%) had secondary syphilis at the time of diagnosis. Twenty-two (85%) of the patients had been diagnosed and treated for syphilis only once, while the remaining (15%) had received two or more treatments. Conclusions: The prevalence of syphilis coinfection and reinfection in patients was 18.3% and 15%, respectively. In cases of coinfection, male gender, alcohol and drug consumption, being MSM, irregular lifestyles, and sexual habits were found to be effective. It is important to conduct screening for syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in HIV-infected patients. Providing psychiatric support to these patients in organizing their life plans is also very important for preventing HIV transmission and syphilis coinfection.

Keywords

• Syphilis
• HIV
• coinfection

HIV ile yaşayan bireylerde sifiliz eş enfeksiyonu: üçüncü basamak üniversite hastanesi verileri

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışmada HIV ile infekte bireylerde sifilizin koenfeksiyonunun varlığı ve bu hastaların epidemiyolojik ve klinik özelliklerinin incelenmesini amaçladık. Gereç ve yöntem: Çalışmamız 13.02.2018-13.02.2024 tarihleri arasında Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Hastanesi Enfeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji polikliniğinde takip edilen ve tanısı doğrulanan 142 HIV/AIDS hastası arasından klinik ve laboratuvar olarak doğrulanmış sifiliz koenfeksiyonu olan 26 hastada gerçekleştirildi. Bulgular: Çalışmaya yaşları 17-77 arasında değişen 142 HIV pozitif ve 26 (%18,3) sifiliz koenfekte hasta dahil edildi. Enfekte ve sifiliz koenfekte hastaların yaş ortalamaları sırasıyla 39,1 ve 41,07 idi. Koenfekte hastaların altısı (%23) evliyken, kalan 14’ü (%53,8) bekar veya boşanmış, beşi multipartnerli; 20‘si (%77) heteroseksüel, dördü (%15) erkeklerle seks yapan erkekti (men who have sex with men – MSM), ikisi (%8) biseksüeldi. Koenfekte hastaların 14'ünde (%54) eş zamanlı HIV/sifiliz pozitifliği tanı anında tespit edilirken, 7'si (%27) HIV tedavi-takip sürecinde ve 5'i (%19) HIV tanısı öncesinde tanı almıştı. Koenfekte hastaların beşinde (%19,2) tanı anında primer, 10'unda (%38,5) latent ve 11'inde (%42,3) tanı anında sekonder sifiliz vardı. Hastaların 22'sine (%85) sadece bir kez sifiliz tanısı konulmuş ve tedavi edilmişken, kalan (%15) hastalar iki veya daha fazla tedavi almıştı. Sonuç: Hastalarda sifiliz koenfeksiyonu ve reenfeksiyon prevalansı sırasıyla 18,3% ve 15% idi. Koenfekte hastalarda erkek cinsiyet, alkol ve uyuşturucu tüketimi, erkeklerle seks yapan erkek olmak (MSM), düzensiz yaşam tarzı ve cinsel alışkanlıkların etkili olduğu bulundu. HIV enfeksiyonlu hastalarda sifiliz ve diğer cinsel yolla bulaşan hastalıklar (CYBH) için tarama yapmak önemlidir. Bu hastalara yaşam planlarını düzenlemeleri konusunda psikiyatrik destek sağlamak HIV bulaşmasını ve sifiliz koenfeksiyonunu önlemek için çok önemlidir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sifiliz
• HIV
• koenfeksiyon

References

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