The interaction between sexually transmissible infections and human immunodeficiency virus infection in homosexual men

本项目研究男同性恋者感染艾滋病毒和性传播感染之间的相互关系。该项目的总体目标是为制定性传播感染预防和治疗战略提供信息，这对降低这一人群的艾滋病毒发病率可能很重要。在澳大利亚，同性恋男性占被诊断为艾滋病毒感染者的80%以上，在许多发达国家，同性恋男性是受艾滋病毒影响的最大群体之一。其他性传播感染的发病率在同性恋男子中也有所增加。目前，澳大利亚和许多发达国家的艾滋病毒感染率正在上升。我们需要新的和有效的预防艾滋病毒的方法。异性恋者的数据表明，在性传播感染常见的地方，及早发现和治疗这些感染可能有助于降低艾滋病毒的发病率。在同性恋男性中，这种关系的数据很少。我们建议利用现有的悉尼同性恋男性队列收集数据的生物学测试的性传播感染，最近诊断的性传播感染的历史，和症状，让一个全面的描述性传播感染的流行病学及其与艾滋病毒的重叠。这一队列中关于艾滋病毒和性传播感染之间相互作用的数据质量将上级于以前在男同性恋者中收集的任何数据，因为它将包括关于自我报告的医生诊断疾病的数据、最先进的生物检测和症状数据，涵盖所有重要性传播感染。这项研究的结果将有助于确定艾滋病毒和性传播感染的筛查，教育和控制的人口，其中包括在澳大利亚的艾滋病毒感染的绝大多数情况下，在发达国家的艾滋病毒感染的最大风险群体之一的战略。筛查结合无症状性传播感染的治疗可能是这一人群预防艾滋病毒的有效新方法。

This project examines the inter-relationship between HIV infection and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in homosexual men. The overall goal of the projet is to inform the development of STI prevention and treatment strategies which may be important in reducing HIV incidence in this population. Homosexual men comprise over 80% of people diagnosed with HIV infecton in Australia, and in many developed nations are one of the largest groups affected by HIV. Rates of other STIs are also increased in homosexual men. Currently, HIV rates are increasing in Australia and in many developed countries. We are in need of new and effective methods of HIV prevention. Data in heterosexuals suggest that where STIs are common, the early detection and treatment of these infections may help reduce HIV incidence. There are few data on this relationship in homosexual men. We propose to utilise an existing Sydney cohort of homosexual men to collect data on biologic tests for STIs, history of recent diagnosis of STIs, and symptoms, to allow a comprehensive description of the epidemiology of STIs and their overlap with HIV. The quality of data on the interaction between HIV and STIs in this cohort will be superior to any previously collected in homosexual men, as it will include data on self-reported doctor diagnosed illness, state of the art biologic testing, and symptom data, for the full spectrum of important STIs. The results of this study will be helpful in determining strategies for HIV and STI screening, education and control in the population which comprises the great majority of cases of HIV infection in Australia, and one of the largest risk groups for HIV infection in the developed world. Screening coupled with treatment of asymptomatic STIs may be an effective new approach to HIV prevention in this population.