scholarly journals Correlations of chlamydia and gonorrhoea among pharyngeal, rectal and urethral sites among Thai men who have sex with men: multicentre community-led test and treat cohort in Thailand

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. e028162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akarin Hiransuthikul ◽  
Thanthip Sungsing ◽  
Jureeporn Jantarapakde ◽  
Deondara Trachunthong ◽  
Stephen Mills ◽  
...  

ObjectiveRoutine screening forChlamydia trachomatis(CT) andNeisseria gonorrhoeae(NG) infections in sexually exposed anatomical sites may be challenging in resource-limited settings. The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of missed CT/NG diagnoses if a single anatomical site screening was performed among men who have sex with men (MSM) by examining the pattern of anatomical sites of CT/NG infections.MethodsThai MSM were enrolled to the community-led test and treat cohort. Screening for CT/NG infections was performed from pharyngeal swab, rectal swab and urine using nucleic acid amplification testing. The correlations of CT/NG among the three anatomical sites were analysed.ResultsAmong 1610 MSM included in the analysis, 21.7% had CT and 15.5% had NG infection at any anatomical site. Among those tested negative for CT or NG infection at either pharyngeal, rectal or urethral site, 8%–19% had CT infection and 7%–12% had NG infection at the remaining two sites. Of the total 349 CT infections, 85.9%, 30.6% and 67.8% would have been missed if only pharyngeal, rectal or urethral screening was performed, respectively. Of the total 249 NG infection, 55.7%, 39.6% and 77.4% would have been missed if only pharyngeal, rectal or urethral screening was performed, respectively. The majority of each anatomical site of CT/NG infection was isolated to their respective site, with rectal site having the highest proportion of isolation: 78.9% of rectal CT and 62.7% of rectal NG infection.ConclusionsA high proportion of CT/NG infections would be missed if single anatomical site screening was performed among MSM. All-site screening is highly recommended, but if not feasible, rectal screening provides the highest yield of CT/NG diagnoses. Effort in lowering the cost of the CT/NG screening test or developing affordable molecular technologies for CT/NG detection is needed for MSM in resource-limited settings.Trial Registration NumberNCT03580512; Results.

2019 ◽  
Vol 95 (7) ◽  
pp. 534-539
Author(s):  
Akarin Hiransuthikul ◽  
Rena Janamnuaysook ◽  
Thanthip Sungsing ◽  
Jureeporn Jantarapakde ◽  
Deondara Trachunthong ◽  
...  

ObjectiveComprehensive data on Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections to guide screening services among transgender women (TGW) are limited. We studied the burden of CT/NG infections in pharyngeal, rectal and urethral sites of Thai TGW and determined missed CT/NG diagnoses if selected site screening was performed.MethodsThai TGW were enrolled to the community-led test and treat cohort. CT/NG screening was performed from pharyngeal swab, rectal swab and urine using nucleic acid amplification test. CT/NG prevalence in each anatomical site was analysed, along with the relationships of CT/NG among the three anatomical sites.ResultsOf 764 TGW included in the analysis, 232 (30.4%) had CT/NG infections at any anatomical site, with an overall incidence of 23.7 per 100 person-years. The most common CT/NG infections by anatomical site were rectal CT (19.5%), rectal NG (9.6%) and pharyngeal NG (8.1%). Among 232 TGW with CT/NG infections at any anatomical site, 22%–94.4% of infections would have been missed if single anatomical site testing was conducted, depending on the selected site. Among 668 TGW who tested negative at pharyngeal site, 20.4% had either rectal or urethral infections. Among 583 TGW who tested negative at the rectal site, 8.7% had either pharyngeal or urethral infections. Among 751 TGW who tested negative at the urethral site, 19.2% had either pharyngeal or rectal infections.ConclusionAlmost one-third of Thai TGW had CT/NG infections. All-site screening is highly recommended to identify these infections, but if not feasible rectal screening provides the highest yield of CT/NG diagnoses. Affordable molecular technologies and/or CT/NG screening in pooled samples from different anatomical sites are urgently needed.Trial registration numberNCT03580512.


2020 ◽  
Vol 96 (8) ◽  
pp. 563-570
Author(s):  
Rosie L Latimer ◽  
Hannah S Shilling ◽  
Lenka A Vodstrcil ◽  
Dorothy A Machalek ◽  
Christopher K Fairley ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo systematically review and appraise published data, to determine the prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) in men who have sex with men (MSM) tested at each anatomical site, that is, at the urethra, rectum and/or pharynx.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesOvid Medline, PubMed, Embase were searched for articles from 1st January 1981 (the year MG was first identified) to 1st June 2018.Review methodsStudies were eligible for inclusion if they reported MG prevalence in MSM tested at the urethra, rectum and/or pharynx, in at least 50 MSM, using nucleic acid amplification testing. Data were extracted by anatomical site, symptom and HIV status. Summary estimates (95% CIs) were calculated using random-effects meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses were performed to assess heterogeneity between studies.ResultsForty-six studies met inclusion criteria, with 34 reporting estimates of MG prevalence at the urethra (13 753 samples), 25 at the rectum (8629 samples) and 7 at the pharynx (1871 samples). MG prevalence was 5.0% (95% CI 3.5 to 6.8; I2=94.0) at the urethra; 6.2% (95% CI 4.6 to 8.1; I2=88.1) at the rectum and 1.0% (95% CI 0.0 to 5.1; I2=96.0) at the pharynx. The prevalence of MG was significantly higher at urethral and rectal sites in symptomatic versus asymptomatic MSM (7.1% vs 2.2%, p<0.001; and 16.1% vs 7.5%, p=0.039, respectively). MG prevalence at the urethra was significantly higher in HIV-positive compared with HIV-negative MSM (7.0% vs 3.4%, p=0.006).ConclusionMG was common in MSM, particularly at urethral and rectal sites (5% to 6%). MG was more commonly detected in symptomatic men at both sites, and more common in HIV-positive men at the urethra. MG was uncommonly detected in the pharynx. Site-specific estimates are similar to those for chlamydia and will be helpful in informing testing practices in MSM.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42017058326.


2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Connolly ◽  
William Kilembe ◽  
Mubiana Inambao ◽  
Ana-Maria Visoiu ◽  
Tyronza Sharkey ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The sexually transmitted infections (STIs) chlamydia (CT) and gonorrhea (NG) are often asymptomatic in women and undetected by syndromic management, leading to complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. Molecular testing, such as the GeneXpert CT/NG assay, is highly sensitive, but cost restraints preclude implementation of these technologies in resource-limited settings. Pooled testing is one strategy to reduce the cost per sample, but the extent of savings depends on disease prevalence. The current study describes a pooling strategy based on identification of sociodemographic and laboratory factors associated with CT/NG prevalence in a high-risk cohort of Zambian female sex workers and single mothers conducted from 2016 to 2019. Factors associated with testing positive for CT/NG via logistic regression modeling included city, younger age, lower education, long-acting reversible contraception usage, Trichomonas vaginalis infection, bacterial vaginosis, and incident syphilis infection. Based on these factors, the study population was stratified into high-, intermediate-, and low-prevalence subgroups and tested accordingly—individually, pools of 3, or pools of 4, respectively. The cost per sample was reduced from $18 to as low as $9.43 in the low-prevalence subgroup. The checklist tool and pooling approach described can be used in a variety of treatment algorithms to lower the cost per sample and increase access to molecular STI screening. This is particularly valuable in resource-limited settings to detect and treat asymptomatic CT/NG infections missed by traditional syndromic management.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohini Bhupathi ◽  
Ganga Chinna Rao Devarapu

One of the best ways to contain the spread of COVID-19 is frequent testing of as many people as possible and timely isolation of uninfected personnel from infected personnel. However, the cost of massive testing is affordable in many countries. The existing technologies might not be scalable to offer affordable testing for millions of people. To address this issue, novel testing methods based on Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) were proposed that are more sensitive, require less reagents and can work with saliva samples instead of more tedious nasal swabs. As a result, LAMP based protocols can make it possible to drive the cost down to one dollar per test. These LAMP based methods require a centrifuge device, mostly for separation of viral particles from reaction inhibitors in saliva samples. However, centrifuge is neither accessible nor affordable in many resource limited settings, especially during this pandemic situation when normal supply chains are heavily disrupted. To overcome these challenges, we invented a low-cost centrifuge that can be useful for carrying out low-cost LAMP based detection of SARS-Cov2 virus in saliva. The 3D printed centrifuge (Mobilefuge) is portable, robust, stable, safe, easy to build and operate. The Mobilefuge doesn't require soldering or programming skills and can be built without any specialised equipment, yet practical enough for high throughput use. More importantly, Mobilefuge can be powered from widely available USB ports, including mobile phones and associated power supplies. This allows the Mobilefuge to be used even in off-grid and resource limited settings. We believe that our invention will aid the efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 by lowering the costs of testing equipment. Apart from the COVID-19 testing, the Mobilefuge can have applications in the field of biomedical research and diagnostics.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Mardian ◽  
Herman Kosasih ◽  
Muhammad Karyana ◽  
Aaron Neal ◽  
Chuen-Yen Lau

Diagnostic testing plays a critical role in addressing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Rapid and accurate diagnostic tests are imperative for identifying and managing infected individuals, contact tracing, epidemiologic characterization, and public health decision making. Laboratory testing may be performed based on symptomatic presentation or for screening of asymptomatic people. Confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 infection is typically by nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), which requires specialized equipment and training and may be particularly challenging in resource-limited settings. NAAT may give false-negative results due to timing of sample collection relative to infection, improper sampling of respiratory specimens, inadequate preservation of samples, and technical limitations; false-positives may occur due to technical errors, particularly contamination during the manual real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) process. Thus, clinical presentation, contact history and contemporary phyloepidemiology must be considered when interpreting results. Several sample-to-answer platforms, including high-throughput systems and Point of Care (PoC) assays, have been developed to increase testing capacity and decrease technical errors. Alternatives to RT-PCR assay, such as other RNA detection methods and antigen tests may be appropriate for certain situations, such as resource-limited settings. While sequencing is important to monitor on-going evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 genome, antibody assays are useful for epidemiologic purposes. The ever-expanding assortment of tests, with varying clinical utility, performance requirements, and limitations, merits comparative evaluation. We herein provide a comprehensive review of currently available COVID-19 diagnostics, exploring their pros and cons as well as appropriate indications. Strategies to further optimize safety, speed, and ease of SARS-CoV-2 testing without compromising accuracy are suggested. Access to scalable diagnostic tools and continued technologic advances, including machine learning and smartphone integration, will facilitate control of the current pandemic as well as preparedness for the next one.


Author(s):  
Yuanhao Liang ◽  
Hongqing Lin ◽  
Lirong Zou ◽  
Jianhui Zhao ◽  
Baisheng Li ◽  
...  

We described CRISPR-Cas12-based multiplex allele-specific assay for rapid SARS-CoV-2 variant genotyping. The new system has the potential to be quickly developed, continuously updated, and easily implemented for screening of SARS-CoV-2 variants in resource-limited settings. This approach can be adapted for emerging mutations and implemented in laboratories already conducting SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification tests using existing resources and extracted nucleic acid.


2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Celia R. Walker ◽  
Kwana Lechiile ◽  
Margaret Mokomane ◽  
Andrew P. Steenhoff ◽  
Tonya Arscott-Mills ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Diagnosing diarrheal disease is difficult in part due to challenges in obtaining and transporting a bulk stool specimen, particularly in resource-limited settings. We compared the performance of flocked rectal swabs to that of traditional bulk stool samples for enteric pathogen detection using the BioFire FilmArray gastrointestinal panel in children admitted to four hospitals in Botswana with community onset severe gastroenteritis. Of the 117-matched flocked rectal swab/stool pairs, we found no significant difference in pathogen detection rates between the flocked rectal swab samples and traditional bulk stool sampling methods for any bacterial (168 versus 167, respectively), viral (94 versus 92, respectively), or protozoan (18 versus 18, respectively) targets. The combination of flocked rectal swab samples with FilmArray testing allows for the rapid diagnosis of infectious gastroenteritis, facilitating a test-and-treat approach for infections that are life-threatening in many resource-limited settings. The culture recovery rates for bacterial pathogens utilizing this approach need to be assessed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akarin Hiransuthikul ◽  
Supanit Pattanachaiwit ◽  
Nipat Teeratakulpisarn ◽  
Parinya Chamnan ◽  
Panita Pathipvanich ◽  
...  

We determined subsequent and recurrent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in the Test and Treat cohort. Thai MSM and TGW adults with previously unknown HIV status were enrolled and tested for HIV. Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and syphilis were tested at baseline, month 12, and month 24 to identify subsequent STIs (any STIs diagnosed after baseline) and recurrent STIs (any subsequent STIs diagnosed among those with positive baseline STIs). Among 448 participants, 17.8% were HIV-positive, the prevalence of subsequent STIs and recurrent STIs was 42% (HIV-positive versus HIV-negative: 66.3% versus 36.7%, p < 0.001) and 62.3% (81% versus 52.5%, p < 0.001), respectively. Common subsequent STIs by anatomical site were rectal CT infection (21.7%), rectal NG infection (13.8%), pharyngeal NG infection (13.1%), and syphilis (11.9%). HIV-positive status was associated with both subsequent STIs (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.38; 95%CI 1.64–3.45, p < 0.001) and recurrent STIs (aHR 1.83; 95%CI 1.16–2.87, p = 0.01). The results show that newly diagnosed HIV-positive MSM and TGW were at increased risk of STIs despite being in the healthcare system. STI educational counseling is necessary to improve STI outcomes among MSM and TGW in both HIV prevention and treatment programs.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S104-S105
Author(s):  
Laura Caragol ◽  
Christopher Voegeli ◽  
Christie Mettenbrink ◽  
Karen Wendel ◽  
Cornelis Rietmeijer

Abstract Background Current guidelines only recommend screening for gonorrhea (GC) and chlamydia (CT) at extragenital sites of exposure in men who have sex with men (MSM). With Medicaid reimbursement for GC/CT nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) at approximately $48/test, expanding testing to women requires a value assessment. We report the prevalence of extragenital GC/CT in women with extragenital exposure, determine the proportion of disease missed by urogenital NAAT, and estimate additional cost per infection identified by extragenital testing in women vs MSM. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of women undergoing extragenital NAAT for GC and CT at Denver Metro Health Clinic. Data were analyzed for all women with extragenital testing from 9/11/2015 to 7/8/2016, and for MSM from 9/3/2013 to 7/8/2016. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and Excel programs were used for data analysis. Results In a total 804 female visits, the mean age was 29 (13–67years); 46% were White non-Hispanic; 37% were Hispanic; and 15% were Black. In women, the prevalence of extragenital GC and CT was 2% (16/804) and 5% (38/804), respectively. The rate of GC infection in women was the same at genital and pharyngeal sites (2%, 16/804) but lower at the rectum (0.25%, 2/804). Female chlamydia rates were 11% genital (85/804), 4% pharyngeal (30/804), and 1.4% rectal (11/804). If only urogenital testing had been performed in women, 27% (6/22) of GC infections and 14% (14/99) of CT infections would have been missed. Overall, isolated extragenital infection accounted for 18% (20/111, 95% CI 12–26%) and 65% (943/1453, 95% CI 62–67%) of the combined GC and CT burden in women and MSM, respectively. On average, 40 women and five MSM were screened with extragenital tests to identify one isolated extragenital infection. Estimated additional Medicaid costs for isolated extragenital infection identified in women was $3,851 and in men was $480 for pharyngeal and rectal testing. Conclusion Urogenital screening misses a significant number of extragenital infections in women. However, given the high cost of extragenital screening in women, further work is needed to determine whether screening can be limited to the pharynx or if risk factors can be used to target screening for cost savings. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


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