Epidemiologic characteristics of two different populations of women with Chlamydia trachomatis infection and their male partners

Article Abstract:

Contact tracing is an important part of the process of treating and preventing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). It involves tracking down partners of individuals with known STDs and treating them if they are infected. In doing so, the chain of transmission can hopefully be broken. In the present study, two groups of women with the STD Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) were identified. The characteristics of the women in the groups and the outcomes of contact tracing were compared. Differences in characteristics of their male partners were also identified. Group A was from an STD screening program, and was comprised of 425 women under 26 years who were found to have asymptomatic Ct. Group B included 100 women, also aged 25 years and under, who had asymptomatic Ct, as diagnosed in an STD clinic. All subjects completed a survey that asked about previous pregnancies, previous genital infections, use of contraception, age at first experience with sexual intercourse, and the duration of their present relationship. Subjects were also asked to identify sexual partners from the prior six months, and they were encouraged to ask them to come in for testing. Women in group A were slightly older than those in group B. Women in group B had a higher average number of partners and lower percentage of steady partners than those in group A. Partners of the women in group B had almost twice the rate of infection as partners of women in group A. Women in group B used condoms more often than women in group A, but they participated in more risk behavior for pregnancy and disease transmission despite condom use. The women in group B and their partners were of lower income than group A women and their partners; group B women and their partners also had higher social welfare expenses than those associated with group A. The need for contact tracing in both groups was identified. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Diagnosis, Women, Prevention, Demographic aspects, Surveys, Sexually transmitted disease diagnosis, Women's health, Sexually transmitted disease prevention, Chlamydia, Clinical epidemiology

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Treatment of asymptomatic amebiasis in homosexual men: clinical trials with metronidazole, tinidazole, and diloxanide furoate

Article Abstract:

Numerous organisms may be sexually transmitted among homosexual men. One such organism is Entameba histolytica, an amoeba which may produce serious complications, or remain an asymptomatic parasite. Symptomatic amebiasis is effectively treated with metronidazole, but the treatment is less effective in asymptomatic infections, most likely because the drug is absorbed and sufficient concentrations are not maintained in the intestine. Forty-two homosexual men with asymptomatic infection with E. histolytica participated in an evaluation of treatment for this protozoal parasite. The men were given a high dose of metronidazole or tinidazole, followed by five days of repeated treatment if the first dose failed. Diloxanide furoate was used to treat patients who were unresponsive to the first regimen. A second study of 49 men evaluated a 10-day regimen of diloxanide furoate. Metronidazole and tinidazole had cure rates of 29 and 33 percent, respectively, after the first dose. For those who failed to respond to the first dose, the five-day protocol produced a 56 percent cure rate with metronidazole, and 42 percent cure rate with tinidazole. Fourteen men required diloxanide furoate treatment; 93 percent were cured. In the second study of 49 men, which had no control group, 88 percent were cured by diloxanide furoate. The results indicate that diloxanide furoate is superior to metronidazole and tinidazole for the treatment of asymptomatic amebiasis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Drug therapy, Intestines, Metronidazole, Antiparasitic agents, Amebiasis

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Contact tracing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection

Article Abstract:

Contact tracing involves determining who has come into contact with people infected with a transmissible disease. Contact tracing has been used to combat the spread of such sexually transmitted diseases as syphilis. As each new infected partner is identified, his or her contacts are subsequently traced, and so on. Contact tracing of individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is controversial. The results of contact tracing for HIV infections in a Swedish clinic are reported. In Sweden the basic strategy to control the spread of the HIV infection is to educate the public about virus transmission and high-risk behavior. The plan also includes identifying the sexual contacts of infected patients. Contacts of HIV-infected patients are required to have an examination. The premise of HIV contact tracing is that once contacts are notified and an infection is identified, those with the virus will not spread it further. One primary healthcare provider asked infected patients to identify all sexual contacts three to four years prior to infection. The original contact's identity is kept confidential. In this study, 188 contacts of 91 infected patients were identified. Of the 38 contacts who tested positive for the HIV infection, 21 did not know they were infected. Contact tracing is also an opportunity to counsel both HIV-negative and HIV-positive patients on safe sex practices. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Social aspects, Reports, Sweden, HIV (Viruses), HIV, Public health, Disease transmission, Control, Medical policy, Health policy, AIDS (Disease), Epidemics, AIDS virus carriers, HIV carriers

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