Programmatic Response to Increase in Number of Syphilis Cases Reporting Meeting Partners at Commercial Sex Venues, Maricopa County, AZ 2015

Background:  Men who have sex with men (MSM) account for the majority of syphilis cases diagnosed in Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix Area). Commercial sex venues (CSV) are frequently named by MSM syphilis cases as a place to meet sexual partners. Maricopa County Department of Public Health’s (MCDPH) STD Program developed a partnership with a local MSM commercial sex venue (CSV) to offer free sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing to patrons of the establishment.

Methods:  Information on meeting locations for partners is obtained during MSM syphilis case interviews and maintained in a local surveillance database. Beginning in September, 2000 testing has been offered to patrons of the CSV twice a month at no charge.  The number of clients tested, number of times in which a CSV was named, and the number of syphilis cases among MSM were evaluated December 2013 through November 2015.

Results:  A total of 1,247 MSM syphilis cases were diagnosed during December 2013-November 2015 (573 cases in 2014 and 674 cases in 2015).  Of these, 108 (8.7 %) cases named a CSV for meeting sexual partners.  This percent increased from 34.3% (37 cases) in 2014 to 66% (71 cases) in 2015 for an overall increase of 92%. The number of patrons who participated in testing at the CSV decreased by 34% (91 (Dec13-Nov14) vs. 60 patrons (Dec14-Nov15).  14 cases were diagnosed from CSV screening between December 2013 – November 2014 and 24 cases from December 2014 – November 2015.

Conclusions:  The number of MSM syphilis cases and the percent of MSM syphilis cases naming a CSV as a meeting location for partners increased from 2014 to 2015.  The decline in the number of MSM tested at the CSV event suggests MSM may be less inclined to seek STD testing while attending these venues.