Self-reported hepatitis A and B vaccination coverage among men who have sex with men (MSM), associated factors and vaccination recommendations in 43 countries of the WHO European Region: results from the European MSM Internet Survey, EMIS-2017.

BackgroundHepatitis A and B vaccinations are recommended for men who have sex with men (MSM), given their increased risk of infection. However, data on vaccination programmes are scarce.AimTo use information on vaccination recommendations and vaccine uptake among MSM in the WHO European Region to guide prevention.

HIV Testing and Treatment among HIV-Positive Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) Living in Russia: Data from Two Waves of the European MSM Internet Survey.

We examined changes in HIV testing and medical care among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Russia. Data come from the 2010 and 2017 waves of the European MSM Internet Survey. From 2010 to 2017 there was an increase in the proportion who had ever received an HIV test (+ 11.

Reemergence of Clade IIb-Associated Mpox, Germany, July-December 2023.

In July 2023, clade IIb-associated mpox reemerged in Germany at low levels, mainly affecting men who have sex with men. We report a representative case and phylogeny of available genome sequences. Our findings underscore the need for standardized surveillance and indication-based vaccination to limit transmission and help prevent endemicity.

Clinically inapparent mpox virus (MPXV) infections among clients of three anonymous Community Based Voluntary Counselling and Testing centres in Berlin, Germany, 2022-2023.

Introduction: Since the mpox outbreak in 2022, it was unclear if and how often infections with mpox virus (MPXV) were clinically inapparent, i.e. not presenting to clinical care with mpox symptoms.

Recently acquired HCV infection in men who have sex with men in Germany in the direct-acting antivirals era and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are key to eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV). In men who have sex with men (MSM) with HIV co-infection, recently acquired HCV infection is common. Sexual practices and reinfection rates may hamper micro-elimination despite high treatment rates.

Still trouble with bleeding: Risk factors for HCV transmission in men who have sex with men and behavioural trajectories from 2019 to 2021.

Objectives: To identify sexual/sex-associated risk factors for hepatitis C transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM) and visualise behavioural trajectories from 2019 to 2021.

Methods: We linked a behavioural survey to a hepatitis C cohort study (NoCo), established in 2019 across six German HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment centres, and performed a case-control analysis. Cases were MSM with recent HCV infection, and controls were matched for HIV status (model 1) or proportions of sexual partners with HIV (model 2).

Determinants of HIV Testing Among Migrant Men Who Have Sex With Men from Sub-Saharan Africa and Other Regions Residing in 10 European Countries.

Migrant men who have sex with men (mMSM) from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and other regions outside Europe are highly vulnerable to HIV. However, research on the determinants of HIV testing among mMSM from SSA, and how these differ across the categories of mMSM living in Europe, is limited. Using data from the European MSM Internet Survey (EMIS-2017), we assessed HIV testing prevalence and recency in mMSM from SSA and other mMSM residing in ten European countries, as well as the determinants of HIV testing across different mMSM categories with logistic regression analyses.

Position statement of the German STI Society on the prophylactic use of doxycycline to prevent STIs (Doxy-PEP, Doxy-PrEP).

Over the past two decades, there has been a rise in the incidence of syphilis, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). This has sparked interest in studying the prophylactic use of doxycycline to prevent syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), commonly referred to as Doxycycline Pre- or Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (Doxy-PrEP, Doxy-PEP). At the same time, demand from potential users for this preventive measure is increasing.

When awareness is not a barrier to PrEP uptake among men who have sex with men who are eligible for PrEP in France.

Despite PrEP being available and free of charge in France, a gap remains between the estimated number of men who have sex with men (MSM) with high-risk exposure to HIV and the number of MSM PrEP users. The objective of this study is to identify factors associated with non-intention to use PrEP among PrEP-eligible and PrEP-aware MSM in France, "non-intenders".European MSM Internet Survey (EMIS)-2017 was a cross-sectional survey conducted among MSM concerning their HIV prevention needs.

Incidence of sexually transmitted infections and association with behavioural factors: Time-to-event analysis of a large pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) cohort.

Objectives: Our objective was to obtain long-term data on the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and their association with behavioural factors after widespread pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) implementation.

Methods: This was a time-to-event analysis of a national PrEP cohort in Switzerland (SwissPrEPared study). Participants were people without HIV interested in taking PrEP with at least two STI screening visits.

[Evaluating the introduction of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis as a benefit of statutory health insurance (EvE-PrEP) : Highly effective protection against HIV without an increase in sexually transmitted infections].

Background: We investigated the impact of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as a new service of the statutory health insurance (SHI) on the incidence of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Germany. In addition, PrEP needs and access barriers were analyzed.

Methods: The following data were evaluated as part of the evaluation project: HIV and syphilis notification data and extended surveillance by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), pharmacy prescription data, SHI routine data, PrEP use in HIV-specialty care centers, Checkpoint, the BRAHMS and PrApp studies, as well as a community board.

Chronic hepatitis C virus infections in Switzerland in 2020: Lower than expected and suggesting achievement of WHO elimination targets.

In this multi-method study, we investigated the prevalence of chronic infections with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Switzerland in 2020, and assessed Switzerland's progress in eliminating HCV as a public health problem by 2030 with regard to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria targeting infections acquired during the preceding year ('new transmissions') and HCV-associated mortality. Based on a systematic literature review, the reappraisal of a 2015 prevalence analysis assuming 0.5% prevalence among the Swiss population and data from many additional sources, we estimated the prevalence among subpopulations at increased risk and the general population.

Comparison of the burden of self-reported bacterial sexually transmitted infections among men having sex with men across 68 countries on four continents.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are in general more vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) than the heterosexual men population. However, surveillance data on STI diagnoses lack comparability across countries due to differential identification of MSM, diagnostic standards and methods, and screening guidelines for asymptomatic infections.

Methods: We compared self-reported overall diagnostic rates for syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia infections, and diagnostic rates for infections that were classified to be symptomatic in the previous 12 months from two online surveys.

Spatio-temporal changes in pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake among MSM in mainland France between 2016 and 2021: a Bayesian small area approach with MSM population estimation.

Introduction: In France, oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention has been publicly available since 2016, mainly targeting at men who have sex with men (MSM). Reliable and robust estimations of the actual PrEP uptake among MSM on a localized level can provide additional insights to identify and better reach marginalized MSM within current HIV prevention service provision. This study used national pharmaco-epidemiology surveillance data and regional MSM population estimations to model the spatio-temporal distribution of PrEP uptake among MSM in France 2016-2021 to identify marginalized MSM at risk for HIV and increase their PrEP uptake.

Association of internalised homonegativity with partner notification after diagnosis of syphilis or gonorrhoea among men having sex with men in 49 countries across four continents.

Background: Partner notification (PN) after a sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnosis is being promoted as a means to interrupt transmission chains. We investigated whether Internalised Homonegativity (IH) is associated with PN among men having sex with men (MSM).

Methods: PN, defined as notifying at least one partner after diagnosis of syphilis and gonorrhoea, was queried in two internet-based self-completion surveys conducted between Oct 2017 and May 2018 in 68 countries in Europe, Latin America, Canada, and the Philippines.

Impact of Migration and Acculturation on Turkish Men Who Have Sex with Men in Germany: Results from the 2010 European MSM Internet Survey.

To examine the impact of migration and acculturation of Turkish men who have sex with men (MSM) to Germany, using data from the European MSM Internet Survey (EMIS-2010), on measures of acculturation including circumcision status, internalized homonegativity (IH), HIV/STI knowledge, sexual orientation, outness, HIV-testing, and sexual behaviors. We compared four groups of MSM: MSM born and residing in Germany who had completed the questionnaire in German (n = 38,915), MSM born and residing in Germany, with a father or mother born in Turkey (n = 97), MSM residing in Germany who were born in Turkey or whose parents were born in Turkey (n = 262), and MSM who were born and residing in Turkey and who completed the questionnaire in Turkish (n = 1,717). Data showed that there were significant dose-response curves between level of migration and several outcome variables.

Latin American Internet Survey for Men who have Sex with Men (LAMIS-2018): Design, methods and implementation.

Despite men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) from Latin America (LA) are still a vulnerable population for known health-related conditions and social problems, availability of comparable data across LA countries for assessment and monitoring purposes is limited. The objective of this article is to present the study design and the questionnaire of LAMIS-2018 (Latin America MSM Internet Survey), its recruitment strategy, rates and sources by country, and the lessons learned from its implementation. LAMIS-2018 was a cross-sectional, internet-based survey targeting MSM living in 18 LA countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela) that gathered data about sexual behaviors, HIV/STI and viral hepatitis knowledge, prophylactic use of antiretrovirals, psychosocial health, and access to sexual health services.

[Tick-Borne Encephalitis (TBE) - Fundamentals].

Tick-Borne Encephalitis (TBE) - Fundamentals There is widespread endemicity of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in all German-speaking countries. In most regions there is a gradual increase in incidence and further territorial spread. As a proportion of the cases is not diagnosed and since the clinical course is getting worse with growing age, substantial underreporting occurs particularly in the pediatric and adolescent patient population.

Unsupervised machine learning predicts future sexual behaviour and sexually transmitted infections among HIV-positive men who have sex with men.

Machine learning is increasingly introduced into medical fields, yet there is limited evidence for its benefit over more commonly used statistical methods in epidemiological studies. We introduce an unsupervised machine learning framework for longitudinal features and evaluate it using sexual behaviour data from the last 20 years from over 3'700 participants in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS). We use hierarchical clustering to find subgroups of men who have sex with men in the SHCS with similar sexual behaviour up to May 2017, and apply regression to test whether these clusters enhance predictions of sexual behaviour or sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) after May 2017 beyond what can be predicted with conventional parameters.