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Eric Caumes (Infectious disease specialist)
Three bacterial sexually transmitted infections increased significantly between 2020 and 2022, according to Public Health France: chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. Explanations from Professor Eric Caumes, infectious disease specialist, consultant at Hôtel-Dieu.
Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis on the rise
According to data provided by doctors from the Sentinelles network1the number of sexually transmitted infections increased significantly between 2020 and 2022. In two years, we see:
- A proportion of chlamydia infections increasing by 16%, with 102 cases per 100,000 inhabitants;
- An increase in gonorrhea cases of 91%, with 44 cases per 100,000 inhabitants,
- A jump in syphilis cases of 110%, with 21 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
A rising number of infections which is correlated with a growing share of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STI) diagnoses as part of screening. Between 2020 and 2022, it went from:
- from 32% to 50% for syphilis;
- from 18.4% to 35.3% for gonorrhea;
- and from 47% to 57.2% for chlamydia.
The profile of infected people was also established by the BEH authors. Compared to those with Chlamydia infection, cases with gonorrhea or syphilis had more multiple partners, more history of STIs, more co-infections with HIV and more use of pre-prophylaxis. exposure (PrEP).
The BEH also indicates a resurgence of STIs of bacterial origin over the past 20 years (early 2000s), after a decline during the previous twenty years, post-AIDS epidemic.
Less condom use
At the same time, researchers point to a decrease in condom use. An observation shared by Eric Caumes, who dedicated his latest book “Sex: the new dangers” about : “STI figures are increasing throughout Europe and not just in France. It’s anything but a surprise. By focusing the prevention of STIs on HIV and only on PrEP, we forget the foundations of prevention of these STIs which are ‘safer sex’, that is to say the use of condoms to be protected during sexual relations”.
The BEH scientists, for their part, recall “the major public health problem“what do STIs represent”due to their transmissibility (to partners and maternal-fetal), their frequency, the long-term complications they induce (chronic pelvic pain, upper genital infections, infertility, cancer, etc.) and their role in transmission of HIV“.
Before concluding on the importance of “continue efforts in terms of combined screening for all STIs (HIV, bacterial STIs, hepatitis B and C) in patients and their partners, in order to quickly start treatment and interrupt chains of transmission“.