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Risk factors for oropharyngeal gonorrhoea in men who have sex with men: an age-matched case–control study

Authors :
Cornelisse, Vincent J
Walker, Sandra
Phillips, Tiffany
Hocking, Jane S
Bradshaw, Catriona S
Lewis, David A
Prestage, Garrett Paul
Grulich, Andrew E
Fairley, Christopher K
Chow, Eric P F
Source :
Sexually Transmitted Infections; 2018, Vol. 94 Issue: 5 p359-364, 6p
Publication Year :
2018

Abstract

ObjectivesOropharyngeal gonorrhoea is common among men who have sex with men (MSM). We aimed to clarify which oral sex practices were independent risk factors for oropharyngeal gonorrhoea: tongue kissing, receptive oro-penile sex (fellatio) or insertive oro-anal sex (rimming), and whether daily use of mouthwash and recent antibiotic use was protective.MethodsIn 2015, we conducted an age-matched case–control study of MSM who attended the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre. Cases had tested positive for oropharyngeal gonorrhoea by nucleic acid amplification testing, and controls had tested negative. Questionnaire items included tongue kissing, oral sex practices, condom use, recent antibiotic use, mouthwash use and alcohol consumption.ResultsWe identified 177 cases, age matched to 354 controls. In univariable analyses, cases were 1.90 times (95% CI 1.13 to 3.20) more likely than controls to have had casual sexual partners (CSP) in the preceding 3 months, were 2.17 times (95% CI 1.31 to 3.59) more likely to have kissed CSP and were 2.04 times (95% CI 1.26 to 3.30) more likely to have had receptive oro-penile sex with CSP. Oropharyngeal gonorrhoea was not associated with insertive oro-anal sex or mouthwash use. The number of CSP for tongue kissing and receptive oral sex and total CSP were highly correlated, and in multivariable analysis neither kissing nor receptive oro-penile sex was significantly associated with having oropharyngeal gonorrhoea, after adjusting for total number of CSP.ConclusionsThe finding that oropharyngeal gonorrhoea was associated with a higher number of sexual partners but not specific sexual practices highlights the need for further research in the area of gonorrhoea transmission to define the probability of transmission from specific sex acts.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
13684973 and 14723263
Volume :
94
Issue :
5
Database :
Supplemental Index
Journal :
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Publication Type :
Periodical
Accession number :
ejs46048679
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2017-053381