Gonorrhoea or Chlamydia in a U.S. Military HIV-Positive Cohort

The authors undertook the current study of an HIV-positive US military cohort to investigate the epidemiology and risk factors of gonorrhoea (GC) or chlamydia (CT) co-infection in this population, focusing on the time after participants were knowledgeable of their HIV diagnosis. The team analyzed data from 4,461 participants enrolled in the US Military Natural History Study cohort for GC or CT infection six or more months after the individuals tested positive for HIV.

Mean follow-up was 7.08 years. During that time, 482 (11 percent) of participants became infected with GC or CT. Of these, 283 (6 percent) acquired a GC infection, 278 (6 percent) acquired a CT infection, and 123 (3 percent) had multiple GC or CT infections. "Risk of GC or CT infection was significantly greater in those younger, male, African-American and with a history of GC or CT infection," the authors wrote.

"Frequent GC and CT diagnoses observed among members of this HIV-positive cohort indicate substantial ongoing risk behaviors that raise concerns for HIV transmission and underscore the need for continued screening to help identify and treat these sexually transmitted infections in this population," the researchers concluded.

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