Correlations Between Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection and Rectal Gonorrhea Incidence in Men Who Have Sex With Men: Implications for Future HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Trials

Abstract

Using published data, we found a direct correlation between the incidence of rectal gonorrhea and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in men who have sex with men who were not using oral preexposure prophylaxis. HIV incidence was predicted using rectal gonorrhea incidence as the determinant in regression analysis. The observed correlation suggest that rectal gonorrhea incidence can potentially serve as a predictor of HIV incidence. If confirmed with additional data, a quantitative correlation for incidence of the 2 infections could be useful in active-controlled HIV prevention trials where low HIV incidence is expected. Widespread improvements in treatment as prevention and gonorrhea control can negatively impact the correlation and its utility.

Keywords: HIV prevention; clinical trial designs; gonorrhea; preexposure prophylaxis.