Azithromycin was more effective than doxycycline in treating patients infected with M genitalium. The extended course of azithromycin was highly effective but was given after the initial treatment with doxycycline. Randomised clinical trials are needed to compare the different dosages of azithromycin.

Objectives:To determine the proportion of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV type 2 (HSV-2) in first episodes of genital herpes. To evaluate the use of HSV specific serology for classifying first episodes of genital herpes and for defining HSV serostatus in the patients' sexual partners. Methods: 108 consecutive patients with first episodes of genital herpes seen at three STD clinics in Sweden from 1995 to 1999 were included in the study. HSV culture and typing were performed and serum was tested for antibodies against a type common HSV antigen and a type specific HSV-2 antigen, glycoprotein G2 (gG2). A structured interview including questions about sexual behaviour and sexual partners was taken. "Steady" partners were oVered a blood test for HSV serology and counselling. Results: Of 108 patients, 11 had a negative HSV culture. Of the 97 who were HSV culture positive, 44% (43/97) were typed as HSV-1 and 56% (54/97) as HSV-2. For 86 of these 97 patients, HSV serology from the initial visit was available. Of 52 primary infections, thus initially seronegative, 64% were HSV-1 infections and of 19 female primary infections 16 (84%) were HSV-1. In 17% the first episode of genital herpes corresponded to the first clinical recurrence of an infection acquired earlier in life. There was a significant correlation between having orogenital sex and being infected with HSV-1 and also a history of labial herpes in the partner. Only 20% of partners of patients with an HSV-2 infection had a history of genital herpes. Conclusions: Almost half of first episodes of genital herpes are caused by HSV-1. In young women with a primary genital infection, HSV-1 is much more frequent than HSV-2. Besides HSV typing, we found specific HSV serology of value for classifying first episodes and for diagnosing a subclinical HSV-2 infection in partners. Anamnestic data supported the suggestion that the orogenital route of transmission was common in genital HSV-1 infections. (Sex Transm Inf 2000;76:179-182)

Two hundred and thirty-three men and 85 women visiting STD clinics in western Sweden between April 1997 and March 1998 were examined for Mycoplasma genitalium and Chlamydia trachomatis. The bacteria were identified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Three women (3.5%) and 18 men (7%) were positive for M. genitalium. Seventeen (14%) of the 115 men with urethritis were infected but only one of the men was without urethritis. After treatment with tetracyclines for 10 days, one woman and 8 of the 13 men still harboured M. genitalium. M. genitalium-infected men did not have more life-time partners than other men visiting STD clinics. More men positive for M. genitalium gave a history of previous urethritis but the difference was not significant.

No abstract

Four different types of contact tracing for partners of Chlamydia trachomatis infected patients were compared with respect to reinfections during two 15-month periods in 1979/80 and in 1983/84. Between the two study periods a gradual improvement in contact tracing occurred. No reduction in overall reinfections was observed in the second period, reinfections occurring within 12 weeks were similar in the two periods. Treatment of the regular partner (by giving the woman a prescription for her partner) without examination or further partner follow-up resulted in few reinfections. A system of partner referral without verification that partners actually appeared for examination resulted in significantly more reinfections by the regular partner than a system with non-mandatory verification: 60 of 997 women (6%) compared with 6 of 645 (1%). The addition of C. trachomatis infection to the existing STD legislation resulted in fewer identified partners refusing examination than previously, one of 254 men (0.4%) compared with 40 of 223 (18%) before legal inclusion.