Oral and Anal Carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae Among Sexually Active Men With HIV Who Have Sex With Men

Abstract

People with HIV are at increased risk of pneumococcal disease. We investigate oral and anal carriage rates of Streptococcus pneumoniae by molecular methods among 82 men with HIV who have sex with men (MSM). A questionnaire, oral wash and anal swab samples were obtained at baseline and 12 months. Oral carriage rates were 32.9% (27/82) at baseline and 41.7% (30/72) at follow-up. Anal carriage rates were 2.4% (2/82) at baseline and 2.9% (2/70) at follow-up. Genogroup 24 was predominant. Results suggest high oral carriage rates of S. pneumoniae among MSM living with HIV. A minority were anal carriers.

Pneumococcal carriage among high-risk adults in a country with nonmandatory pneumococcal vaccination during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

“…However, as of 2022, low- and middle-income countries, including Thailand, had yet to implement pneumococcal vaccines into their national immunization programme [5] . Asymptomatic carriage precedes either PDs or IPDs, with a colonization rate in children ranging from 26.7% to 90.7% [6] , whereas in high-risk adults, the rate can reach 20% [7] , [8] or 32.9%–41.7% [9] . Carriage is considered to be a prerequisite for clinical infections.…”