Non-chlamydial non-gonococcal urethritis or undiagnosed chlamydial urethritis?

Should Female Partners of Men With Non-Gonococcal Urethritis, Negative for Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium, Be Informed and Treated? Clinical Outcomes From a Partner Study of Heterosexual Men With NGU

BACKGROUND

To determine if female partners of men with pathogen-negative non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) are at risk of genital infection.

METHODS

Secondary data analysis using health records from a large sexually transmitted disease clinic in Melbourne of 1710 men and their female partners attending on the same day from January 2006 to April 2015. Proportions of female partners with symptoms suggesting genital infection or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) were determined for: (1) men with NGU and no Chlamydia trachomatis or Mycoplasma genitalium (referred to as pathogen-negative NGU) (n = 91); 2) men with urethral C. trachomatis (n = 176); 3) men with urethral M. genitalium (n = 26); and 4) asymptomatic men (n = 652).

RESULTS

Female partners of men with pathogen-negative NGU experienced deep pelvic pain (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-4.4), post coital bleeding (AOR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.2-4.9), and dysuria (AOR, 3.7; 95% CI, 1.6-8.6) more commonly and were diagnosed with PID more commonly (AOR, 4.8; 95% CI, 2.1-11.3) than the female partners of asymptomatic men. Pelvic inflammatory disease was not more likely to be diagnosed in the female partners of men with genital warts (AOR, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.5-4.4) or candidiasis (AOR, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.4-3.5) than the female partners of asymptomatic men. The female partners of men with chlamydia experienced post coital bleeding more (AOR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.0-3.6) and were more likely to be diagnosed with PID (AOR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.6-8.0).

CONCLUSIONS

The female partners of men with pathogen-negative NGU may be at increased risk of genital infection, even if a recognised pathogen is not identified in the man.

The Ballseye programme: a mixed-methods programme of research in traditional sexual health and alternative community settings to improve the sexual health of men in the UK

Background

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnoses are increasing and efforts to reduce transmission have failed. There are major uncertainties in the evidence base surrounding the delivery of STI care for men.

Aim

To improve the sexual health of young men in the UK by determining optimal strategies for STI testing and care

Objectives

To develop an evidence-based clinical algorithm for STI testing in asymptomatic men; model mathematically the epidemiological and economic impact of removing microscopy from routine STI testing in asymptomatic men; conduct a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) of accelerated partner therapy (APT; new models of partner notification to rapidly treat male sex partners of people with STIs) in primary care; explore the acceptability of diverse venues for STI screening in men; and determine optimal models for the delivery of screening.

Design

Systematic review of the clinical consequences of asymptomatic non-chlamydial, non-gonococcal urethritis (NCNGU); case–control study of factors associated with NCNGU; mathematical modelling of the epidemiological and economic impact of removing microscopy from asymptomatic screening and cost-effectiveness analysis; pilot RCT of APT for male sex partners of women diagnosed withChlamydia trachomatisinfection in primary care; stratified random probability sample survey of UK young men; qualitative study of men’s views on accessing STI testing; SPORTSMART pilot cluster RCT of two STI screening interventions in amateur football clubs; and anonymous questionnaire survey of STI risk and previous testing behaviour in men in football clubs.

Settings

General population, genitourinary medicine clinic attenders, general practice and community contraception and sexual health clinic attenders and amateur football clubs.

Participants

Men and women.

Interventions

Partner notification interventions: APTHotline [telephone assessment of partner(s)] and APTPharmacy [community pharmacist assessment of partner(s)]. SPORTSMART interventions: football captain-led and health adviser-led promotion of urine-based STI screening.

Main outcome measures

For the APT pilot RCT, the primary outcome, determined for each contactable partner, was whether or not they were considered to have been treated within 6 weeks of index diagnosis. For the SPORTSMART pilot RCT, the primary outcome was the proportion of eligible men accepting screening.

Results

Non-chlamydial, non-gonococcal urethritis is not associated with significant clinical consequences for men or their sexual partners but study quality is poor (systematic review). Men with symptomatic and asymptomatic NCNGU and healthy men share similar demographic, behavioural and clinical variables (case–control study). Removal of urethral microscopy from routine asymptomatic screening is likely to lead to a small rise in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) but could save > £5M over 20 years (mathematical modelling and health economics analysis). In the APT pilot RCT the proportion of partners treated by the APTHotline [39/111 (35%)], APTPharmacy [46/100 (46%)] and standard patient referral [46/102 (45%)] did not meet national standards but exceeded previously reported outcomes in community settings. Men’s reported willingness to access self-sampling kits for STIs and human immunodeficiency virus infection was high. Traditional health-care settings were preferred but sports venues were acceptable to half of men who played sport (random probability sample survey). Men appear to prefer a ‘straightforward’ approach to STI screening, accessible as part of their daily activities (qualitative study). Uptake of STI screening in the SPORTSMART RCT was high, irrespective of arm [captain led 28/56 (50%); health-care professional led 31/46 (67%); poster only 31/51 (61%)], and costs were similar. Men were at risk of STIs but previous testing was common.

Conclusions

Men find traditional health-care settings the most acceptable places to access STI screening. Self-sampling kits in football clubs could widen access to screening and offer a public health impact for men with limited local sexual health services. Available evidence does not support an association between asymptomatic NCNGU and significant adverse clinical outcomes for men or their sexual partners but the literature is of poor quality. Similarities in characteristics of men with and without NCNGU precluded development of a meaningful clinical algorithm to guide STI testing in asymptomatic men. The mathematical modelling and cost-effectiveness analysis of removing all asymptomatic urethral microscopy screening suggests that this would result in a small rise in adverse outcomes such as PID but that it would be highly cost-effective. APT appears to improve outcomes of partner notification in community settings but outcomes still fail to meet national standards. Priorities for future work include improving understanding of men’s collective behaviours and how these can be harnessed to improve health outcomes; exploring barriers to and facilitators of opportunistic STI screening for men attending general practice, with development of evidence-based interventions to increase the offer and uptake of screening; further development of APT for community settings; and studies to improve knowledge of factors specific to screening men who have sex with men (MSM) and, in particular, how, with the different epidemiology of STIs in MSM and the current narrow focus on chlamydia, this could negatively impact MSM’s sexual health.

Funding

The National Institute for Health Research Programme Grants for Applied Research programme.

Is asymptomatic non-chlamydial non-gonococcal urethritis associated with significant clinical consequences in men and their sexual partners: a systematic review

Opinions are divided on whether to screen asymptomatic men for non-chlamydial non-gonococcal urethritis (NCNGU). We systematically reviewed the literature to determine whether male asymptomatic NCNGU is associated with significant clinical outcomes for men and/or their sexual partners. We searched electronic databases and reference lists from retrieved articles and reviews. No studies reporting clinical outcomes in men with asymptomatic NCNGU were identified. Two eligible studies report rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in female partners of men with asymptomatic NCNGU; Chlamydia trachomatis was detected in 2.4% and 8.3% of these women. The evidence available is insufficient in quality and breadth to enable us to conclude whether asymptomatic NCNGU is associated with significant health consequences for men or their sexual partners; however, clinical consequences of asymptomatic NCNGU are poorly investigated. Clinicians should be aware of the limitations of the evidence on which current screening guidelines for asymptomatic men are based.

Should men with asymptomatic non-specific urethritis be identified and treated?

There is currently a debate as to whether microscopy is necessary in asymptomatic men presenting for a sexual health screen. Arguments favouring microscopy include finding chlamydia in a significant proportion of sexual partners of men with non-specific urethritis (NSU) in studies that included symptomatic men. We aimed to investigate the proportion of partners of men with asymptomatic NSU who were diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection. A retrospective case-note review was carried out for all men diagnosed with asymptomatic pathogen-negative NSU, and their traced sexual contacts, during a nine-month period. As a result of contact-tracing, we identified 42 partners who attended the clinic. Only one partner (2.4%) tested positive for chlamydia. A further two partners were diagnosed with a viral sexually transmitted infection (STI). The low level of chlamydia and other STIs in partners of asymptomatic men with pathogen-negative NSU does not support the routine use of microscopy to identify these patients.

The clinical correlates of genital Chlamydia infection in the era of nucleic acid testing

The recent increase in the diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections and the introduction of Nucleic Acid Amplification Technique (NAAT) for Chlamydia trachomatis require redress of the clinical correlates. The increased awareness by the medical profession and public community, coupled with the sensitivity of the NAAT for Chlamydia leads to more diagnosis and the identification of conditions, which would have been labelled differently (e.g. cervicitis) or acquired a different diagnosis (non-specific urethritis). Our study indicates that 70% of women and 38% of men had additional genitourinary condition. This suggests that a patient presenting with Chlamydial infection requires assessment to exclude sexually associated conditions. The majority of patients (80% of women and 75% of men), diagnosed with Chlamydia presented with symptoms. On occasions, there may have been a contribution of symptoms from other associated infections. These findings relate with our semi-rural, mostly Caucasian and stable population. We expect a higher profile of sexually-related conditions with Chlamydia for patients in inner cities. A study for this group of patients is essential.