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Introduction: Outbreaks of syphilis have been described among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) in Western communities, whereas reports in Asian countries are limited. We aimed to characterize the incidence and temporal trends of syphilis among HIV-infected MSM compared with HIV-infected non-MSM in Asian countries. Methods: Patients enrolled in the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database cohort and with a negative non-treponemal test since enrolment were analyzed. Incidence of syphilis seroconversion, defined as a positive non-treponemal test after previously testing negative, was evaluated among patients at sites performing non-treponemal tests at least annually. Factors associated with syphilis seroconversion were investigated at sites doing non-treponemal testing in all new patients and subsequently testing routinely or when patients were suspected of having syphilis. Results: We included 1010 patients from five sites that performed non-treponemal tests in all new patients; those included had negative non-treponemal test results during enrolment and subsequent follow-ups. Among them, 657 patients were from three sites conducting regular non-treponemal testing. The incidence of syphilis seroconversion was 5.38/100 person-years (PY). Incidence was higher in MSM than non-MSM (7.64/100 PY vs. 2.44/100 PY, p Conclusions: We observed a higher incidence of syphilis seroconversion among HIV-infected MSM and a trend to increasing annual incidence. Regular screening for syphilis and targeted interventions to limit transmission are needed in this population. Keywords: syphilis; incidence; seroconversion; HIV; MSM., Introduction After the development of penicillin, the number of syphilis cases fell to its lowest level in 2000 in the United States, from 20.3 cases per 100,000 people to 2.9 [...]

Introduction: Injecting drug use (IDU) is associated with tuberculosis but few data are available from low-income settings. We examined IDU in relation to active and latent tuberculosis (LTBI) among HIV-positive individuals in Indonesia, which has a high burden of tuberculosis and a rapidly growing HIV epidemic strongly driven by IDU. Methods: Active tuberculosis was measured prospectively among 1900 consecutive antiretroviral treatment (ART)-naVve adult patients entering care in a clinic in West Java. Prevalence of LTBI was determined cross-sectionally in a subset of 518 ARTexperienced patients using an interferon-gamma release assay. Results: Patients with a history of IDU (53.1%) more often reported a history of tuberculosis treatment (34.8% vs. 21.9%, p < 0.001), more often received tuberculosis treatment during follow-up (adjusted HR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.25-2.35) and more often had bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis (OR = 1.67; 95% CI: 0.94-2.96). LTBI was equally prevalent among people with and without a history of IDU (29.1 vs. 30.4%, NS). The risk estimates did not change after adjustment for CD4 cell count or ART. Conclusions: HIV-positive individuals with a history of IDU in Indonesia have more active tuberculosis, with similar rates of LTBI. Within the HIV clinic, LTBI screening and isoniazid preventive therapy may be prioritized to patients with a history of IDU. Keywords: cohort studies; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; human immunodeficiency virus; substance abuse; intravenous; latent tuberculosis infection., Introduction Tuberculosis is a major global health problem, ranking as the second leading cause of death from an infectious disease [1]. Individuals who are more often exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, [...]