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Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is currently spreading among men who have sex with men, outside of sub-Saharan Africa, and close contact during sex seems to be one of the key pathways of viral transmission in the current outbreak. Our aim was to describe the distribution of MPXV in the human body, as it might play a role in its dissemination through sexual contact.The study population in this case series consisted of patients with confirmed MPXV infection attending the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital (Paris, France), who had been sampled from multiple anatomical sites, including skin, anus, throat, blood, urine, and semen, at diagnosis and 2 weeks later. We compared the proportion of positive samples and MPXV viral loads (given as PCR cycle thresholds [Ct]) between anatomical sites, and between day 0 (D0) and D14.Overall, 356 samples were collected between May 20 and June 13, 2022, from 50 men with a median age of 34 years (IQR 29-40). 22 (44%) of the 50 men were classified as HIV-negative on day (D)0, and 22 (44%) were living with HIV. At D0, MPXV detection was more frequent from skin (44 [88%] of 50), anus (30 [71%] of 42), and throat (36 [77%] of 47) than from blood (13 [29%] of 45), urine (nine [22%] of 41), or semen (13 [54%] of 24). Viral loads were significantly higher from skin lesions (Ct 19·8) and anal samples (Ct 20·9) than from throat (Ct 27·2), blood (Ct 32·8), urine (31·1), or semen samples (Ct 27·8). When analysing the 107 samples taken from 24 patients at D14, the proportion of positive samples strongly decreased between D0 and D14 at all sites: skin (four [22%] of 18), anus (two [9%] of 22), throat (none of 21), blood (one [5%] of 21), urine (none of 14), and semen (two [9%] of 11).These data contribute to a better understanding of how the virus might spread between sexual partners over a relatively short period of time. High MPXV viral loads from skin and mucosa, including genital and anal sites, suggest that transmission most likely occurs through direct body contact rather than through the respiratory route or contact with body fluids, which should help to refine the prevention messages delivered to individuals most exposed to the virus.None.

Chemsex is a growing concern among men who have sex with men (MSM). Covid-19 lockdowns have had consequences on social and sexual interactions. We aimed to assess changes in chemsex practices during Covid-19 lockdown in France among MSM, and factors associated with maintaining or increasing chemsex practice.Repeated face-to-face questionnaires were conducted at "Le 190" Sexual Health Center, Paris, France, exploring lifestyle, sexual and chemsex practices, Covid-19 concerns and mental health before and during second lockdown in France (30/10/2020-15/12/2020). Inclusion criteria were: chemsex practices at least 3 times throughout lifetime and at least once in the 3 months prior to second lockdown. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants who declared having stopped, decreased, maintained, or increased their chemsex practice during lockdown. Uni- and multivariable logistic regressions were used to analyze factors associated with evolutions of chemsex practice.93 MSM were included: 66% HIV-positive, 30% taking PrEP. Drugs most used were cathinones (91%) and GHB/GBL (52%). Participants reported stopping, decreasing, maintaining and increasing chemsex drugs use in 14%, 22%, 22% and 42% of cases, respectively. Despite this overall increase in chemsex practice, MSM decreased their number of sexual partners. Factors significantly associated with maintaining or increasing chemsex drugs use were: feeling lonely (OR=3.24), craving (OR=4.51), and working during lockdown (OR=3.27), contrasting with fear of Covid-19 (OR=0.31).Restriction measures lead to changes in sexual behavior and appear to increase chemsex practice. Maintaining care for most isolated patients should be a priority in Covid-19 context.

Chemsex involves mental and sexual health risks for users, which generate specific needs in primary care. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of the general practitioner (GP) in the identification of disorders and first aid offered to MSM chemsex users (CUs). Data were collected with a self-administered questionnaire offered to MSM patients consulting in six Parisian STI clinics. The primary endpoint was the number of GP visits reported by patients in the past 12 months between CUs and control. Three hundred sixty-four MSMs were included between October and December of 2018: 94 CUs (25.9%) and 270 control. The multivariate analysis showed no statistically significant difference in the number of GP visits in the past 12 months (3.27 vs 2.66, p = 0.205). CUs had a higher number of sexual partners (p

Objectives Presence of baseline hepatitis C virus (HCV) resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) can impair treatment outcome of direct-acting antivirals. We investigated the prevalence of pre-treatment HCV resistance among recently HCV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) with high risk behaviours, either human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infected or at high risk of HIV acquisition and under pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Methods NS5A and NS3 fragments were deep sequenced on pre-treatment samples of 72 subjects using Illumina MiSeq paired-end sequencing technology. Ultra-deep sequencing data were analysed by SmartGene® platform. RASs mentioned in the literature were analysed and interpreted depending on genotype (GT) at 10% cut-off. Results HCV genotyping showed 36 (50.0%) GT1a, 31 (43.1%) GT4d and 5 (6.9%) GT3a infections. Fifty-five patients (76.4%) were co-infected with HIV and 15 (20.8%) received PrEP. In GT1a viruses, NS3 RASs were found in 4/30 viruses (13.3%; S122 G/N, R155 K and I170 V) and Q80 K polymorphism was present in 14/30 viruses (46.7%). No NS3 RASs were detected in GT4d and GT3a viruses. NS5A RASs were detected in 3/36 GT1a viruses (8.3%; Q30E/R, L31 M and H58 L). NS5A subtype-specific polymorphisms L30R and T58 P were found at high frequencies in 31/31 (100%) and 16/31 (51.6%) GT4d viruses, respectively. One RAS M31 L was also observed along with the polymorphisms L30R and T58 P. No NS5A RASs were detected in GT3a viruses. Conclusion A low level of RASs to NS3 and NS5A inhibitors in pre-treatment samples was detected in the study population. Our findings reassure the clinical management of HCV infection in this high-risk population.

International audience; BackgroundThere are few data available regarding the use of on-demand pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention. We aimed to assess PrEP effectiveness, adherence, and safety in adults using daily or on-demand PrEP.MethodsWe conducted a prospective observational cohort study (ANRS PREVENIR) at 26 sites in the Paris region, France. We enrolled HIV-negative adults (aged ≥18 years) at high risk of HIV infection who were starting or continuing PrEP. PrEP was prescribed as a fixed-dose combination of tenofovir disoproxil and emtricitabine (245 mg and 200 mg, respectively, per pill). PrEP could be prescribed as a daily regimen with one pill per day or, in men who have sex with men (MSM) or in transgender women who have sex with men, as an on-demand regimen following the IPERGAY dosing recommendation. At enrolment and every 3 months thereafter, participants were tested for HIV and provided information regarding the PrEP dosing regimen used. Adherence to PrEP was assessed by self-report and by tenofovir diphosphate concentrations in dried blood spots. The primary outcome of HIV-1 incidence was assessed using Poisson regression among participants who started PrEP. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03113123, and EudraCT, 2016A0157744.FindingsBetween May 3, 2017, and May 2, 2019, 3082 people were assessed for eligibility and 3065 participants were enrolled. 3056 (99·7%) of 3065 participants reported using PrEP and were included in the analyses. The median age was 36 years (IQR 29–43), 1344 (44·0%) of 3056 participants were PrEP-naive, and 3016 (98·7%) were MSM. At enrolment, 1540 (50·5%) of 3049 participants opted for daily PrEP dosing and 1509 (49·5%) opted for on-demand PrEP dosing; these proportions remained stable during follow-up. Median follow-up was 22·1 months (IQR 15·9–29·7) and incidence of study discontinuation was 17·6 participants (95% CI 16·5–18·7) per 100 person-years. At the data cutoff on Sept 30, 2020, there had been six HIV-1 seroconversions (three participants using daily PrEP and three using on-demand PrEP; all were MSM) over 5623 person-years. Overall HIV-1 incidence was 1·1 cases (95% CI 0·4–2·3) per 1000 person-years, and did not differ between participants using daily PrEP and those using on-demand PrEP (incidence rate ratio 1·00, 95% CI 0·13–7·49; p=0·99). Four participants (two using daily PrEP and two using on-demand PrEP) discontinued PrEP due to treatment-related adverse events (nausea [n=2], vomiting and diarrhoea [n=1], and lumbar pain [n=1]).InterpretationIn this study, which enrolled mainly MSM, HIV-1 incidence on PrEP was low and did not differ between participants using daily PrEP and those using on-demand PrEP. On-demand PrEP therefore represents a valid alternative to daily PrEP for MSM, providing greater choice in HIV prevention.FundingANRS/Maladies Infectieuses Emergentes, Gilead Sciences, SIDACTION, and Région Ile de France.TranslationFor the French translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.; ANRS/Maladies Infectieuses Emergentes, Gilead Sciences, SIDACTION, and Région Ile de France.

ObjectivesHIV self-tests (HSTs) have been deployed to reduce the burden of undiagnosed HIV infections in subpopulations undertested. We assumed that patients attending sexual health centres could themselves distribute HSTs in their close network. This study aimed to assess the proportion and the characteristics of the participants who distributed HSTs, as well as the characteristics of people who received HSTs.MethodsThree HSTs were given to patients attending “Le 190” Sexual Health Center, Paris, France, having consented for the study, between July 2018 and August 2020. Participants had to distribute HSTs within 6 months, preferably to individuals in their close circle who have not been tested for a long time. Then they had to complete a self-questionnaire, exploring HIV status, sexual practices, number of distributed HSTs, profile of persons who received HSTs, and if known, result of used HSTs. Univariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with HST distribution.ResultsOverall, 682/1062 (64%) patients accepted to be included in the study, and 283/682 (42%) completed the questionnaire. 97% were men who have sex with men (MSMs), including 86 (30%) HIV-positive individuals and 119 (42%) HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) users. The proportion of participants having distributed 0, 1, 2 or 3 HSTs was 31%, 15%, 27% and 27%, respectively. Participants having distributed at least one HST (n=195, 69%) were more likely to have previously used HSTs themselves (OR=3.90, 95% CI=1.84 to 8.29, pConclusionMSMs attending sexual health centres could be good disseminators of HSTs, targeting a population with high level of undiagnosed HIV infections, especially if they have already experimented it.

International audience; Background - Increasing incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive men having sex with men (MSM) has been described in recent years. Phylogenetic analyses of acute HCV infections were undertaken to characterize the dynamics during the epidemic in Paris, and associated sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were evaluated. Methods - Sanger sequencing of polymerase gene was performed. Maximum likelihood phylogenies were reconstructed using FastTree 2.1 under a GTR+CAT model. Transmission chains were defined as clades with a branch probability ≥0.80 and intraclade genetic distances

International audience; INTRODUCTION: Mixed hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype (GT) infections are clinically important as different genotypes have varied sensitivities to direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). A high prevalence of mixed GT infections was observed in individuals who inject drugs and had multiple HCV exposures. The prevalence of mixed HCV GT infections in men who have sex with men (MSM) and high-risk behaviors was investigated by ultra-deep sequencing (UDS).METHODS: NS5B fragment was sequenced from viruses of patients with recent HCV infection: there were 50 HIV-positive and 18 HIV-negative patients, including 13 from the ANRS Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) IPERGAY study. UDS data were analysed using Geneious (version 10.3.2). Phylogenetic trees were constructed using FastTree (version 2.1).RESULTS: HCV sequencing showed GT1a (47.1%), GT4d (41.2%), GT3a (8.8%) and GT2k (2.9%). We detected three (4.4%) mixed GT infections: one between predominant GT4d and minority GT1a, one between predominant GT4d and minority GT1b, and one between predominant GT1a and minority GT4d virus. The rates of minority GT viral populations detected in viruses of the three patients with mixed GT infections were 0.32%, 10.7%, and 1.3%, respectively. The first two patients were HIV co-infected and the third was HIV-negative under PrEP. The anti-HCV treatment was successful in all three patients.CONCLUSION: This work showed uncommon mixed HCV GT infections in MSM at high risk of multiple HCV exposures. The impact of these infections on treatment response has not been established but further studies on more patients are necessary. To prevent treatment failure in this population, regular monitoring of treatment response is needed, particularly when pan-genotypic treatment is not used.

Diagnoses of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STI) have been increasing in France since their resurgence in the late 1990s. This article presents recent epidemiological trends until 2016 and the patients’ characteristics. STI surveillance relies on sentinel networks: a clinician-based network RésIST (clinical, biological and behavioural data for early syphilis and gonorrhoea), the lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) network (clinical, biological and behavioural data for rectal LGV, and the laboratory networks Rénachla and Rénago (demographic and biological data for chlamydial infections and gonorrhoea, respectively). Here we describe trends between 2014 and 2016, using data from diagnostic centres which participated regularly during the study period. The number of early syphilis, gonorrhoea and LGV diagnoses increased between 2014 and 2016, particularly in men who have sex with men. An increase in syphilis and gonorrhoea cases was also observed in heterosexuals. Nevertheless, we observed a drop in 2016 for syphilis and chlamydial infections after two decades of increases. Under-reporting and shortage of benzathine penicillin in 2016 may explain this latest evolution. Regular screening of patients and partners, followed by prompt treatment, remains essential to interrupt STI transmission in a context where human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention has expanded towards biomedical prophylaxis.

While stigma associated with HIV infection is well recognised, there is limited information on the impact of HIV-related stigma between men who have sex with men and within communities of gay men. The consequences of HIV-related stigma can be personal and community-wide, including impacts on mood and emotional well-being, prevention, testing behaviour, and mental and general health. This review of the literature reports a growing division between HIV-positive and HIV-negative gay men, and a fragmentation of gay communities based along lines of perceived or actual HIV status. The literature includes multiple references to HIV stigma and discrimination between gay men, men who have sex with men, and among and between many gay communities. This HIV stigma takes diverse forms and can incorporate aspects of social exclusion, ageism, discrimination based on physical appearance and health status, rejection and violence. By compiling the available information on this understudied form of HIV-related discrimination, we hope to better understand and target research and countermeasures aimed at reducing its impact at multiple levels.

Introduction: PrEP is a HIV prevention method available in France since 2016. The renewal and soon the primary prescription can be made by the attending physician. The objective was to describe the events that occurred, following the prescription of PrEP, on the sex lives of patients followed by general practitioners at the Paris sexual health center, the 190. Methods: We carried out a retrospective observational study. Recruitment concerned patients who received a PrEP primary prescription at 190 from 07/11/2016 to 07/31/2017. The data for each consultation was extracted from the computerized health records over 24 months of follow-up. Results: 415 patients were recruited, 3,567 consultations of general medicine done, for a follow-up of 621.4 person-years. 1 seroconversion was observed (patient who stopped PrEP 7 months before). At each consultation, the percentage of patients with at least 1 STI is stable (27.7 to 32.8%). The younger the patients, the more they are exposed to STIs (Rho = -0.161) and at risk of loss to follow-up (age 34vs37, p, Introduction : La PrEP est une modalité de prévention de l’infection à VIH disponible en France depuis 2016. Le renouvellement et bientôt la primo-prescription sont réalisables par le médecin traitant. L’objectif était de décrire les évènements survenus et consécutifs à la prescription de PrEP sur la vie sexuelle de patients pris en charge par les généralistes du centre de santé sexuelle parisien le 190. Matériels et méthodes : Nous avons réalisé une étude observationnelle rétrospective. Le recrutement a concerné les patients ayant bénéficié d’une primo-prescription PrEP au 190 du 11/07/2016 au 31/07/2017. Les données de chaque consultation ont été extraites des dossiers informatisés sur 24 mois de suivi. Résultats : 415 patients ont été recrutés, 3567 consultations de médecine générale recensées, pour un suivi de 621.4 personnes-années. 1 séroconversion a été observée (patient ayant arrêté la PrEP 7 mois avant). À chaque consultation, le pourcentage de patients ayant au moins 1 IST est stable (27.7 à 32.8%). Plus les patients sont jeunes, plus ils sont exposés aux IST (Rho=-0.161) et à risque de perte de vue (âge 34vs37,p