Significant Increase in Testing Rates for Sexually Transmissible Infections Following the Introduction of an Anal Cytological Screening Program, Targeting HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex With Men

The authors undertook the current study to determine whether the introduction of an anal cytology screening program (ACSP) targeting HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) had an effect on the rates of sexually transmissible infection (STI) testing and detection in an urban HIV outpatient clinic. The study compared uptake of STI testing, which was offered as part of ACSP, and STI diagnoses before and after the introduction of ACSP.

The results showed the number of men undergoing STI testing increased significantly from 67 (20.4 percent) to 123 (34.8 percent) (relative risk 1.7, 95 percent confidence interval 1.40-2.07). However, the increase in the number of patients with any STI did not achieve significance (from 7 to 11, prevalence ratio 0.86, 95 percent CI 0.33-2.21). The authors also noted that the rates of STI diagnosis in ACSP participants were no different from those MSM who declined the screening (11.3 percent vs. 7.7 percent, P=0.557).

"STI testing, when combined with an ACSP in HIV-positive MSM, may lead to an increase in STI testing and increased opportunities for risk reduction interventions," the authors concluded. "Men participating in an ACSP appear to have similar risk of STIs to those who decline participation in an ACSP. The inclusion of STI testing could potentially enhance the public health benefit of ACSPs."

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