Syphilis Co-Infection in Individuals Living with HIV: Data from Tertiary Hospitals

Objective: Our study aimed to reveal the syphilis coinfection data in patients living with HIV. In this context, data on coinfection rates, the period in which syphilis was diagnosed, reinfection rates, and the determination of the population at risk for syphilis in patients living with HIV/AIDS were presented. Methods: Patients with HIV/AIDS confirmed between January 2016 and December 2020 at a training and research hospital were retrospectively screened for syphilis serological examinations (RPR, TPHA). The conventional diagnostic algorithm was used in all patients. Results: The rate of syphilis co-infection was 23.38% (47/201) in 201 individuals living with HIV in our patient population. Of 47 HIV/syphilis co-infected patients included in the study, 4.2% were female, and 95.8% were male. The mean age of our patients was 41.11±12.42 years. Primary syphilis was diagnosed in 6 (14.2%) patients; secondary syphilis was diagnosed in 3 (7.1%) patients, and 38 (80.8%) patients were diagnosed in the latent syphilis period. We did not have a patient diagnosed with tertiary syphilis, neurosyphilis, or congenital syphilis. Twenty-six patients (55.3%) were heterosexual, 17 patients (36.2%) were men who had sex with men (MSM), and four patients (8.5%) were bisexual. While syphilis co-infection rates were 17.9% (26/145) in heterosexual individuals, it was 37.5% (21/56) in MSM and bisexual individuals. While 32 patients (68%) were in the HIV infection stage, 15 (32%) were diagnosed with AIDS. Reinfection was detected in 8.51% (4/47) of the patients. Conclusion: Most HIV/syphilis co-infected patients are male individuals who have sex with men diagnosed with latent syphilis. HIV/AIDS and syphilis infections are increasing every year in our country. Undetectable= Untransmissible approach causes prevention methods to be thrown into the background. Sexual protection with barrier methods in patients living with HIV continues to maintain its importance today due to co-infections.