{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,26]],"date-time":"2025-10-26T14:53:06Z","timestamp":1761490386385},"reference-count":19,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"2","content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Sex Transm Infect"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2018,3]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title><jats:p>Prevention and control of gonorrhoea depends on understanding the nature of sexual networks and risk factors for infection. We aimed to use high-resolution typing (whole genome sequencing (WGS)) of <jats:italic>Neisseria gonorrhoeae<\/jats:italic> isolates plus patient questionnaire data to gain insights into transmission patterns in a high prevalence setting.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>During a 9-month period (July 2014\u2013March 2015), patients diagnosed with gonorrhoea attending sexual health service in Brighton, UK, were invited to provide anonymised detailed information by questionnaire about risk factors for infection. Questionnaire data plus WGS data from cultured isolates were analysed to yield information about sexual networks and risk factors for infection.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>104\/149 individuals who consented to participate in the study were culture positive. 97\/104 (93%) were male. 80 self-reported to be men who have sex with men (MSM). 35\/104 (34%) of patients were HIV positive. 51\/104 (49%) individuals reported using geosocial networking applications to facilitate contact. Sex under the influence of drugs was reported by 16\/34 (46%) of HIV-positive MSM, 17\/41 (41%) of HIV-negative MSM and 5\/15 (31%) of heterosexuals. WGS data were available for 100 isolates from 83 patients. 55 isolates (66%) belonged to genetically related subtypes involving one or more patients, who could be plausibly linked through recent direct or indirect transmission. Four transmission clusters containing 3\u201312 individuals were composed of MSM of mixed HIV serostatus.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title><jats:p>We show that data obtained from WGS of <jats:italic>N. gonorrhoeae<\/jats:italic> and enhanced epidemiological data obtained from patient questionnaires are mutually supportive and reveal insights into sexual networks. Our findings suggest that serosorting may have declined as a practice and indicate the importance of designing public health interventions that target infection risks associated with recreational drug use and contact made using geosocial networking applications.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/sextrans-2017-053198","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2017,10,12]],"date-time":"2017-10-12T00:55:33Z","timestamp":1507769733000},"page":"138-143","update-policy":"http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":21,"title":["Whole genome sequencing of <i>Neisseria gonorrhoeae<\/i> reveals transmission clusters involving patients of mixed HIV serostatus"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"94","author":[{"given":"Joanna","family":"Peters","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Fiona","family":"Cresswell","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Lauren","family":"Amor","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kevin","family":"Cole","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Gillian","family":"Dean","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Xavier","family":"Didelot","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Dilrini","family":"De Silva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"David W","family":"Eyre","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"John","family":"Paul","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,10,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"2020050723325082000_94.2.138.1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Newman L , Rowley J , Vander Hoorn S , et al . Global estimates of the prevalence and incidence of four curable sexually transmitted infections in 2012 based on systematic review and global reporting. PLoS One 2015;10:e0143304.doi:10.1371\/journal.pone.0143304","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0143304"},{"key":"2020050723325082000_94.2.138.2","first-page":"27","article-title":"Sexually transmitted infections and chlamydia screening in England","volume":"10","author":"Anon","year":"2016","journal-title":"Health Protection Report"},{"key":"2020050723325082000_94.2.138.3","unstructured":"Anon. Sexually transmitted diseases surveillance. Centers for disease control and prevention. 2015 https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/std\/stats15\/gonorrhea.htm (accessed 20 Mar 2017)."},{"key":"2020050723325082000_94.2.138.4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1258\/ijsa.2012.200312"},{"key":"2020050723325082000_94.2.138.5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/sextrans-2015-052014"},{"key":"2020050723325082000_94.2.138.6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/sextrans-2015-052323"},{"key":"2020050723325082000_94.2.138.7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"858","DOI":"10.1177\/0956462416677916","article-title":"Investigating factors for increased gonorrhoea re-infection in men who have sex with men attending a genitourinary clinic: a qualitative study","volume":"28","author":"Payne","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int J STD AIDS"},{"key":"2020050723325082000_94.2.138.8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"504","DOI":"10.1093\/ofid\/ofw172.367","article-title":"Meta-analysis finds association between pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and increased risk of sexually transmitted infection acquisition among men who have sex with men","volume":"3","author":"Kojima","year":"2016","journal-title":"Open Forum Infect Dis"},{"key":"2020050723325082000_94.2.138.9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2016.5148"},{"key":"2020050723325082000_94.2.138.10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1295","DOI":"10.1016\/S1473-3099(16)30157-8","article-title":"Whole-genome sequencing to determine transmission of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: an observational study","volume":"16","author":"De Silva","year":"2016","journal-title":"Lancet Infect Dis"},{"key":"2020050723325082000_94.2.138.11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Didelot X , Dordel J , Whittles LK , et al . Genomic analysis and comparison of two gonorrhea outbreaks. MBio 2016;7:e00525-16.doi:10.1128\/mBio.00525-16","DOI":"10.1128\/mBio.00525-16"},{"key":"2020050723325082000_94.2.138.12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pcbi.1004041"},{"key":"2020050723325082000_94.2.138.13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(15)00056-2"},{"key":"2020050723325082000_94.2.138.14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"559","DOI":"10.1089\/apc.2015.0126","article-title":"HIV serosorting, status disclosure, and strategic positioning among highly sexually active gay and bisexual men","volume":"29","author":"Grov","year":"2015","journal-title":"AIDS Patient Care STDS"},{"key":"2020050723325082000_94.2.138.15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S134","DOI":"10.1093\/infdis\/174.Supplement_2.S134","article-title":"The development and use of the concept of a sexually transmitted disease core","volume":"174 Suppl 2","author":"Thomas","year":"1996","journal-title":"J Infect Dis"},{"key":"2020050723325082000_94.2.138.16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/00007435-197804000-00003"},{"key":"2020050723325082000_94.2.138.17","unstructured":"Anon. Substance misuse services for men who have sex with men involved in chemsex, 2015. PHE publications gateway number: 2015476 November."},{"key":"2020050723325082000_94.2.138.18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S453","DOI":"10.1097\/QAD.0000000000000479","article-title":"Increasing trends in HIV prevalence among people aged 50 years and older: evidence from estimates and survey data","volume":"28 Suppl 4","author":"Mahy","year":"2014","journal-title":"AIDS"},{"key":"2020050723325082000_94.2.138.19","unstructured":"Anon. Genitourinary medicine clinic activity dataset (GUMCADv2): Public Health England, 2013. https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/genitourinary-medicine-clinic-activity-dataset-gumcadv2."}],"container-title":["Sexually Transmitted Infections"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/sextrans-2017-053198","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2020,9,26]],"date-time":"2020-09-26T10:15:05Z","timestamp":1601115305000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/sti.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/sextrans-2017-053198"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2017,10,11]]},"references-count":19,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2018,2,20]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2018,3]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/sextrans-2017-053198"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/sextrans-2017-053198","relation":{},"ISSN":["1368-4973","1472-3263"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1368-4973","type":"print"},{"value":"1472-3263","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2017,10,11]]}}}