No abstract

Objectives:To review the literature on the role of oral sex in the transmission of non-viral sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Method: A Medline search was performed using the keywords oro-genital sex, and those specific to each infection. Further references were then taken from each article read. Conclusions: Oral sex is a common sexual practice between both heterosexual and homosexual couples. Oro-genital sex is implicated as a route of transmission for gonorrhoea, syphilis, Chlamydia trachomatis, chancroid, and Neisseria meningitidis. Other respiratory organisms such as streptococci, Haemophilus influenzae, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae could also be transmitted by this route. Fellatio confers risk for acquisition of infection by the oral partner. Cunnilingus appears to predispose to recurrent vaginal candidiasis although the mechanism for this is unclear, while a link between oro-genital sex and bacterial vaginosis is currently being studied. Oro-anal sex is implicated in the transmission of various enteric infections. In view of the increased practice of oral sex this has become a more important potential route of transmission for oral, respiratory, and genital pathogens. (Sex Transm Inf 1998;74:95-100)

The incidence of lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia and neutropenia was studied in 105 homosexual men with HIV infection. Lymphopenia was common in patients with AIDS (75%), but its incidence in PGL (24%) was not significantly different from that in asymptomatic anti-HIV positive (15%) homosexual men. Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were found in patients with AIDS or PGL, but not in asymptomatic anti-HIV positive homosexuals. The study suggests that the neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in these patients were due to autoimmune destruction of neutrophils and platelets.

The emergence of a clonal group of gonococci showing decreased susceptibility to cefixime in England and Wales highlights the need for continued surveillance.

Objective-To assess the knowledge and attitudes of medical students to HIVIAIDS and whether attitudes correlate with knowledge and clinical experience. To determine if students felt adequately prepared to deal with medical and psychological aspects of HIVIAIDS. Subjects and Methods-The subjects consisted of 190 London and 99 Cambridge medical students at the end of their genitourinary medicine attachment, plus 230 Cambridge medical students at the end of their second pre-clinical year. Between March 1991 and February 1992 all were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire, covering factual knowledge and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS. Main results-Cambridge genitourinary medicine students, despite spending less time studying HIV infection than their London counterparts gave more correct answers to the factual questions, although this difference did not reach significance (52.4% vs. 47.5%, p = 0.14).