Self-sampling with oral rinse to detect oropharyngeal among men who have sex with men: results from an exploratory study in Belgium (the SSONG Study).

Objectives: We aimed to assess whether a self-collected oral rinse was non-inferior to clinician-collected oropharyngeal swabs to detect (Ng) using culture and nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) among men who have sex with men (MSM), and whether Ng may still be detected in oral rinses for a minimum of 5 days after collection.

Methods: MSM with a positive Ng result in an oropharyngeal or pooled sample (oropharynx, urethra and anorectum) were approached. Clinician-collected oropharyngeal swabs and oral rinses (15 mL sterile water) were taken.

and Antimicrobial Resistance Among a Cohort of West African Men Who Have Sex With Men Using Preexposure Prophylaxis (CohMSM-PrEP ANRS 12369-Expertise France Study).

Background: Antimicrobial resistance to macrolides and fluoroquinolones in (MG) among men who have sex with men (MSM) is worryingly high in high-resource countries. Data in Africa are lacking. We aimed to assess the burden of MG including the presence of resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) in MG among MSM using human immunodeficiency virus preexposure prophylaxis in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, and Togo.

Sexually Transmitted Infections and Associated Risk Factors Among Male Clients of Sex Workers: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Project in Antwerp, Belgium.

Introduction: Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is increasing in Belgium in recent years. Clients of sex workers form a key population for acquisition of STIs, due to their sexual relations, with or without a condom, with sex workers. STI testing uptake is low among clients of sex workers, and prevalence of STIs remains to be investigated in Belgium.

Sub-Inhibitory Concentrations of Chlorhexidine Induce Resistance to Chlorhexidine and Decrease Antibiotic Susceptibility in .

Chlorhexidine digluconate (chlorhexidine) and Listerine mouthwashes are being promoted as alternative treatment options to prevent the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in . We performed challenge experiments to assess induction and evolution of resistance to these two mouthwashes and potential cross-resistance to other antimicrobials. A customized morbidostat was used to subject reference strain WHO-F to dynamically sustained Listerine or chlorhexidine pressure for 18 days and 40 days, respectively.

Gonococcal bacterial load in PrEP users with Mycoplasma genitalium coinfection.

Objectives: Gonococcal infections with a higher bacterial load may pose a higher risk of transmission. We assessed the association between gonococcal bacterial load and coinfection with .

Methods: From September 2015 until May 2018, 200 men and transgender women who have sex with men participated in an HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) demonstration trial in Antwerp, Belgium.

Prevalence estimates of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Belgium: results from two cross-sectional studies.

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia) is the most diagnosed sexually transmitted infection in Belgium. Screening programs focus on young women, due to the implications of chronic asymptomatic infections for reproductive health. Thereby, the frequency of infections in men and older adults is underestimated.

Chlorhexidine Mouthwash Fails to Eradicate Oropharyngeal Gonorrhea in a Clinical Pilot Trial (MoNg).

This single-arm open-label pilot trial in Antwerp, Belgium, was ended early in accordance with the protocol because twice-daily gargling with chlorhexidine 0.2% for 6 days failed to eradicate Neisseria gonorrhoeae from the oropharynx of asymptomatic men who have sex with men (n = 3; efficacy of 0%; 95% confidence interval, 0%-56.1%).

Recurrent Sexually Transmitted Infections Among a Cohort of Men Who Have Sex With Men Using Preexposure Prophylaxis in Belgium Are Highly Associated With Sexualized Drug Use.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) experiencing recurrent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) may play a crucial role in the STI epidemic. However, there is limited understanding of what kind of behavior leads to recurrent STIs.

Methods: A total of 179 MSM using preexposure prophylaxis were followed up for 18 months and were screened quarterly for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis from 2015 to 2018 in Belgium.

Hepatitis C Prevalence and Validation of a Clinical Prediction Score for Targeted Screening among People Living with HIV in Ghana.

WHO recommends hepatitis C (HCV) screening for all people living with HIV (PLHIV). Yet, HCV coinfection was shown to be rare in some Sub-Saharan HIV cohorts, and targeted testing was suggested more efficient for such settings. We studied HCV prevalence among Ghanaian PLHIV, and assessed the external validity of a score to guide targeted testing.

The development of mouthwashes without anti-gonococcal activity for controlled clinical trials: an in vitro study.

: The oropharynx plays a major role in the development and spread of antimicrobial resistant among men who have sex with men. Trials are currently assessing the efficacy of bactericidal mouthwashes as possible therapeutic or preventive options against these pharyngeal gonococcal infections. Controlled clinical trials require the use of a placebo mouthwash without anti-gonococcal activity.

Implementation and evaluation of the Presto combined qualitative real-time assay for and in Rwanda.

Background: The Presto combined qualitative real-time assay for and (Presto CT/NG PCR assay) is appealing for developing countries, because it can be used with multiple DNA extraction methods and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) platforms.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to implement and evaluate the Presto CT/NG PCR assay at the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) in Kigali, Rwanda, where no real-time PCR assays for the detection of or were available.

Methods: The Presto CT/NG PCR assay was first evaluated at the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Antwerp, Belgium.

Targeted point-of-care testing compared with syndromic management of urogenital infections in women (WISH): a cross-sectional screening and diagnostic accuracy study.

Background: Sexually transmitted and urogenital infections are typically managed by WHO-recommended syndromic algorithms in resource-poor countries, and presumptively in Europe. However, algorithms for vaginal discharge and lower abdominal pain perform poorly in women. The women's improvement of sexual and reproductive health (WISH) study in Kigali, Rwanda, sought to improve case-finding and infection management in women by introducing point-of-care tests.

Evaluation of the 'Colli-Pee', a first-void urine collection device for self-sampling at home for the detection of sexually transmitted infections, versus a routine clinic-based urine collection in a one-to-one comparison study design: efficacy and acceptability among MSM in Belgium.

Objectives: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users are screened bi-annual for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). A novel device, called the Colli-Pee, collects first-void urine in a standardised way and the collector tube can be easily delivered by regular post to a certified laboratory. The aim of the study was a one-to-one comparison between the STI test results obtained with the urine collected in the clinic, versus urine collected at home in a real-life setting by Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) in Belgium.

Lymphogranuloma venereum is on the rise in Belgium among HIV negative men who have sex with men: surveillance data from 2011 until the end of June 2017.

Background: The number of cases of Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is increasing in Europe. The described epidemic is mostly confined to HIV positive men who have sex with men (MSM). However, dissemination of LGV from HIV positive to HIV negative MSM could take place due to the implementation of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and subsequent possible decrease in condom use.

Evaluation of an enzymatic Chlamydia trachomatis point-of-care rapid assay in Rwanda: the BioChekSwab Rapid Test.

Objectives: We evaluated the performance of an enzymatic point-of-care rapid test for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) (the BioChekSwab CT Rapid Test, EnZtek Diagnostics, Rio Vista, California, USA), which detects CT's Peptidase 123CBV enzyme and provides a result 15 min after specimen collection.

Methods: Two endocervical swabs, including one BioChekSwab, per person were obtained from 137 women who participated in a reproductive health study in Rwanda. The BioChekSwab was processed according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Prevalence and incidence estimation of HSV-2 by two IgG ELISA methods among South African women at high risk of HIV.

Introduction: Previous comparison studies of the Kalon and HerpeSelect 2 ELISA IgG assays on sub-Saharan samples have found differences in the sensitivity and specificity of these assays. Using longitudinal samples from an HIV prevention study, we compared both assays and determined the HSV-2 prevalence and incidence in a South African young female population at elevated risk of acquiring HIV.

Methods: Samples at baseline were tested in both assays using the manufacturers' guidelines (cut-off > 1.

Diaryltriazine non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors are potent candidates for pre-exposure prophylaxis in the prevention of sexual HIV transmission.

Objectives: Pre-exposure prophylaxis and topical microbicides are important strategies in the prevention of sexual HIV transmission, especially since partial protection has been shown in proof-of-concept studies. In search of new candidate drugs with an improved toxicity profile and with activity against common non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-resistant HIV, we have synthesized and investigated a library of 60 new diaryltriazine analogues.

Methods: From this library, 15 compounds were evaluated in depth using a broad armamentarium of in vitro assays that are part of a preclinical testing algorithm for microbicide development.

Evaluation of the APTIMA Combo 2 Assay using self-administered vaginal swabs for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

We report on the performance of the APTIMA Combo 2 assay for the detection of chlamydial infection and gonorrhea using self-administered vaginal specimens in specimen transport medium and specimen kept dry. The results are compared with the results using the Amplicor assay and the BD ProbeTec assay™.