Testing for M. genitalium has become important for clinicians treating sexually transmitted infections. In this nationwide survey, macrolide resistance was found in almost 40% of the specimens, raising concern about single-dose azithromycin treatment of NGU, and emphasizing that NGU treatment should be guided by etiologic diagnosis.

Both transcription-mediated amplification (TMA)-based MG assays had a highly superior sensitivity compared to the mgpB qPCR. The prevalence of MG and azithromycin resistance was high. Validated and quality-assured molecular tests for MG, routine resistance testing of MG-positive samples and antimicrobial resistance surveillance are crucial.

ObjectivesRisk of subsequent diagnosis of HIV in persons diagnosed with newly acquired syphilis, and syphilis in HIV-infected persons, are of interest as these infections are markers of unsafe sex.MethodsFrom a nationwide register, all Danish men aged >16 years diagnosed with syphilis in the period 2000–2010 (n=1217) were identified, and subsequently data on HIV status was extracted from the Danish HIV Cohort Study. We used Kaplan–Meier analysis to estimate the 5-year risk of HIV and second syphilis infection, and Cox regression to determine incidence rate ratios (IRR).ResultsThe 5-year risk of HIV diagnosis was 9.8% (95% CI 7.0% to 12.6%). Those with a second diagnosis of syphilis had a higher risk of being diagnosed with HIV (IRR=3.1, 95% CI 1.2 to 8.0). The 5-year risk for a second diagnosis of syphilis was 14.8% (95% CI 12.1% to 17.4%) and HIV-infected persons had a higher risk of a second syphilis diagnosis (IRR=4.0, 95% CI 2.8 to 5.9). Sixty-five percent of the persons were men having sex with men (MSM). Thirty-four percent of the HIV-infected persons had viral load >1000 copies/ml at time of syphilis diagnosis.ConclusionsThe substantial risks of syphilis and HIV infection in men diagnosed with one of these sexually transmitted diseases indicate a high frequency of unsafe sex in the Danish MSM population. As one-third of the HIV-infected persons diagnosed with syphilis had high viral loads, our data support initiation of antiretroviral therapy in all HIV-infected MSM to reduce HIV transmission.

Serological response to treatment of syphilis with orally administered doxycycline or intramuscularly administered penicillin was assessed in patients with concurrent HIV. All HIV-infected individuals diagnosed with syphilis attending 3 hospitals in Copenhagen, Denmark were included. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) associated with serological outcome were modelled using propensity-score-adjusted logistic regression analysis. In total, 202 cases were treated with doxycycline or intramuscular penicillin. At 12 months, serological failure was observed in 12 cases (15%) treated with doxycycline and in 8 cases (17%) treated with penicillin (OR 0.78 (95% CI 0.16-3.88), p = 0.76). The serological cure rate at 12 months was highest in patients with primary syphilis (100%), followed by patients with secondary (89%), early latent (71%) and late latent (67%) syphilis (p = 0.006). In conclusion, this study provides evidence for the use of doxycycline as a treatment option when treating a HIV-infected population for syphilis.