Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether rectal gonorrhoea (RG; Neisseria gonorrhoeae) can be used as a lead indicator of trends in HIV diagnosis in men who have sex with men (MSM). METHODS: Data from a metropolitan sexual health centre in Victoria, Australia, on RG and HIV tests in HIV-negative MSM from January 2006 to December 2011 were examined. RESULTS: Allowing RG a 12-month lead over HIV showed no concordance in proportion positive (r=0.27; P-value=0.28). CONCLUSIONS: The data do not support use of RG trends as a lead indicator of trends in HIV among MSM.

Project

• The Victorian Primary Care Network for Sentinel Surveillance on BBVs and STIs
  The surveillance involves collection and linking of testing, demographic, and risk behaviour information.