INTRODUCTION:
The
number of consultations for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is
increasing in Spain. The aim of this study was to describe and analyze the
epidemiological, behavioral, clinical, and microbiological characteristics of
patients registered at the STI unit of a tertiary hospital.
METHODS:
This was
a retrospective, single-center descriptive study carried out between 2010 and
2013 in a multidisciplinary unit specialized in STIs, situated in a tertiary
hospital. Epidemiological, clinical, and behavioral data were gathered using a
face-to-face interview and a standardized questionnaire. Samples were collected
for microbiology analysis.
RESULTS:
The study
included 546 patients: 96% were men, 41% had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
infection, and 56% were men who have sex with men. The reasons for consultation
were the following: urethritis; genital, anal, or perianal ulcers; proctitis;
oral ulcers; sexual contact with a person with a known STI; and high-risk
sexual contact. The most common microbiological diagnoses were Neisseria
gonorrhoeae in urethritis, Treponema pallidum in genital and anal or perianal
ulcers, and Chlamydia trachomatis lymphogranuloma venereum serovars in
proctitis. The highest prevalences of the main STIs studied occurred in
homosexual men with HIV infection.
CONCLUSION:
This
study confirms the increase in the incidence of STIs in recent years and the
epidemiological characteristics of the HIV/STI epidemic in Spain.
1Servicio de
Dermatología, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
2Servicio de
Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona,
España.
3Servicio de
Microbiología, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
4Servicio de
Epidemiología, Agencia de Salud Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
5Servicio de
Dermatología, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
Electronic address: malsina@clinic.ub.es.
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