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Ethnically diverse urban transmission networks of Neisseria gonorrhoeae without evidence of HIV serosorting
Version 2 2023-06-12, 09:13
Version 1 2023-06-09, 19:38
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-12, 09:13 authored by Jayshree Dave, John Paul, Thomas Joshua Pasvol, Andy Williams, Fiona Warburton, Kevin Cole, Victoria Fotini Miari, Richard Stabler, David W EyreObjective We aimed to characterise gonorrhoea transmission patterns in a diverse urban population by linking genomic, epidemiological and antimicrobial susceptibility data. Methods Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from patients attending sexual health clinics at Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK, during an eleven-month period underwent whole-genome sequencing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. We combined laboratory and patient data to investigate the transmission network structure. Results One hundred and fifty-eight isolates from 158 patients were available with associated descriptive data. One hundred and twenty-nine (82%) patients identified as male and 25 (16%) as female; 4 (3%) records lacked gender information. Self-described ethnicities were: 51 (32%) English/Welsh/Scottish; 33 (21%) White, other; 23 (15%) Black British/Black African/Black, other; 12 (8%) Caribbean; 9 (6%) South Asian; 6 (4%) mixed ethnicity; 10 (6%) other; data were missing for 14 (9%). Self-reported sexual orientations were 82 (52%) men who have sex with men; 49 (31%) heterosexual; 2 (1%) bisexual; data missing for 25 individuals. Twenty-two (14%) patients were HIV-positive. Whole genome sequence data were generated for 151 isolates, which linked 75 (50%) patients to at least one other case. Using sequencing data, we found no evidence of transmission networks related to specific ethnic groups (p=0.64) or of HIV serosorting (p=0.35). Of 82 MSM/bisexual patients with sequencing data, 45 (55%) belonged to clusters of =2 cases, compared to 16/44 (36%) heterosexuals with sequencing data (p=0.06). Conclusion We demonstrate links between 50% of patients in transmission networks using a relatively small sample in a large cosmopolitan city. We found no evidence of HIV serosorting. Our results do not support assortative selectivity as an explanation for differences in gonorrhoea incidence between ethnic groups.
History
Publication status
- Published
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- Published version
Journal
BMJ Journals Sexually Transmitted InfectionsISSN
1472-3263Publisher
BMJ Publishing GroupExternal DOI
Department affiliated with
- BSMS Publications
Research groups affiliated with
- Brighton and Sussex Centre for Global Health Research Publications
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- No
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- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2019-11-13First Open Access (FOA) Date
2019-11-13First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2019-11-12Usage metrics
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