High prevalence of anti-hepatitis A IgG in a cohort of UK HIV-negative men who have sex with men: implications for local hepatitis A vaccine policy.

BASHH guidelines recommend that 'the hepatitis A virus total antibody test can be offered to at-risk patients whose immune status is unknown … depending on local funding arrangements'. We sought to measure the local prevalence of anti-hepatitis A (HAV) IgG in HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM), to inform the utility of pre-vaccination screening. We assessed the prevalence of anti-HAV IgG in HIV-negative MSM who attended sexual health services in County Durham and Darlington, UK, from March to August 2017.

Chlamydia in a district general hospital: an audit of treatment and contact tracing.

A retrospective case note audit, with reference to the recently published central audit group guidelines, was undertaken to assess females with chlamydial infection attending a district general hospital department of genitourinary medicine. Those diagnosed and referred by other agencies (mainly general practitioners (GPs)) were more often symptomatic and those treated before attending was more likely to need retreating. Contact tracing for current and recent partners was more successful than tracing previous partners.

Gonorrhoea as an indicator of altered sexual behaviour and as a surrogate marker of HIV concern: a 13-year analysis in Newcastle.

It has been proposed that changes in sexual behaviour arising out of concerns regarding HIV infection can be inferred by changes in the incidence of gonorrhoea. We have reviewed data on gonococcal isolates in Newcastle over the last 13 years and looked at changes in relation to HIV test requests, new cases of HIV infection and media campaigns. HIV testing has been available in the clinic since late 1985.

Risks and behaviour in patients requesting HIV tests.

A prospective survey to assess reasons for requesting HIV tests, perceived HIV risk and sexual behaviour in genitourinary medicine clinic attenders was carried out. Overall 123 (38.6%) were concerned about casual sexual contacts.

Gonococcal infection in Edinburgh and Newcastle: serovar prevalence in relation to clinical features and sexual orientation.

Aims: The variable distribution of gonococcal serovars in different areas is well recognised but the factors that are important determinants of serovar prevalence are less clear. The aim of this study was to identify relevant clinical variables by comparing serovar prevalence in two cities over the same time period.

Methods: A prospective analysis of serovar prevalence was made between January and December 1992 in Edinburgh and Newcastle with respect to age, sex, sexual orientation, antibiotic sensitivity and presence of symptoms.

Treatment of anogenital warts in genitourinary clinics in England and Wales.

A questionnaire on the treatment of anogenital warts was sent to 150 consultants in genitourinary medicine, 78 (52%) were returned completed. A wide range of treatments were used; podophyllin was the commonest first line treatment of multiple penile (60.3%), perianal (57.