Etiology of symptomatic urethritis in men and association with sexual behaviors

摘要

INTRODUCTION: Gonorrhea and chlamydia are sexually transmitted infections (STI) that are the most common causes of urethritis in men. The role of specific sexual be- haviors and presentation of urethritis is often overlooked. METHODS: Data was retrospectively reviewed on all men presenting at the major STI clinic in Providence, Rhode Island. Predictors of gonorrhea and chlamydia infection were modeled using a generalized model assuming a binary distribution. RESULTS: Of the men with urethritis, 27% had chlamyd- ia, 13% gonorrhea, 3% both, and 63% neither (non-gono- coccal, non-chlamydial urethritis). MSM were more like- ly to test positive for gonorrhea than MSW (25% of MSM versus 6% of MSW; p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: MSM with urethritis were much more likely to test positive for gonorrhea which may be due to increased risk behaviors and spread within concentrated sexual networks. A large number of both MSM and MSW had non-gonococcal, non-chlamydial urethritis, which suggests the need for improved diagnostic testing.