Sexual behaviours and sexually transmitted infections among MSM living with HIV followed at a university hospital in Istanbul, Turkey

Background Men sex with men (MSM) are accepted as a hidden key population in the dissemination of HIV in Turkey. Understanding sexual behaviours and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) frequency in MSM living with HIV is important to provide appropriate health and control policies. Methods Sexual anamnesis including 5Ps were taken with triple-site (urine, pharyngeal and rectal swab) screening tests, which were performed according to the recommendations in the HIV follow up guidelines, from 45 MSM living with HIV, who were followed and consecutively attended to their control visit Marmara University Pendik Education and Training Hospital, in Istanbul, in 2018. Results 24.4 % and 26.7 % of participants tested positive for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), respectively. This ratio decreased to 6.7% if urine was the only sample taken to be tested. Syphilis seropositivity increased from 18% to 34% during the HIV diagnosis to triple testing time, which is a median period of 28 months. Conclusion The data obtained emphasizes the screening and reimbursement of triple testing in key population groups.