Part of the GBHSH community in Spain uses doxycycline to prevent sexually transmitted diseases

The rising incidence of sexually transmitted bacterial infections (STIs) is a serious public well being downside worldwide. At present, among the many therapies being studied is using the antibiotic doxycycline as a way of post-exposure prophylaxis after unprotected intercourse—often called DoxyPEP.

Researchers have carried out the primary research in Spain on using DoxyPEP as a preventive technique among the many homosexual, bisexual and different males who’ve intercourse with males (GBHSH) group in Spain.

“The outcomes recommend that, though medical and scientific associations not often endorse the group use of DoxyPEP as a prevention technique, the GBHSH group is already integrating it as a safety measure,” explains Sergio Villanueva, who led the research and is a professor on the UB’s School of Info and Audiovisual Media and a researcher on the UB Middle for Analysis in Info, Communication and Tradition (CRICC).

The research, revealed within the journal An infection, has been promoted by Cease, an NGO devoted to the sexual well being of the GBHSH group, of which Professor Villanueva is a member.

DoxyPEP, a promising device however liable to rising bacterial resistance

A number of medical analysis research not too long ago—such because the IPERGAY medical trial in France in 2015; DoxyPEP in the USA, or DoxyVac in France in 2022—have evaluated the efficacy of doxycycline as a way of post-exposure prophylaxis—often called DoxyPEP—with promising outcomes in opposition to syphilis (Treponema pallidum), chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis) and, to a lesser extent, gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae).

Regardless of this proof, most medical and scientific associations don’t advocate its use locally, primarily due to considerations concerning the potential influence of this remedy on the rising antibiotic resistance.

The researchers say that “the European AIDS Scientific Society (EACS) signifies that DoxyPEP might be proposed to folks with repeated sexually transmitted infections (STIs) dwelling with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and solely on a case-by-case foundation.

“Following these suggestions, a number of nationwide associations in European international locations have issued comparable tips, such because the Spanish Affiliation of Infectious Illnesses and Scientific Microbiology (SEIMC), which recommends DoxyPEP on a case-by-case foundation.”

Knowledge in line with research in different international locations

On this context, the consultants tried to get an outline of the penetration of this pharmacological device within the GBHSH group. To this finish, they surveyed 150 members of the group by way of the NGO’s social networks. The outcomes revealed that 35.4% of the respondents had used doxycycline as DoxyPEP, 17.2% of whom didn’t observe the dosing regimens evaluated in medical trials—i.e., 200 mg inside 72 hours of condomless intercourse.

Villanueva acknowledges that “these findings are in line with these noticed in an identical research in Germany, the place a comparable proportion of GBHSH group members sampled had taken doxycycline up to now 12 months and have been utilizing it as DoxyPEP (35.4% vs. 23%).”

Concerning the most typical strategies of acquiring doxycycline, in keeping with the research, the most typical are by way of a specialist’s prescription or utilizing tablets left over from a earlier therapy; in some instances in addition they acquire it by ordering it on-line or by way of unofficial channels.

Furthermore, the research additionally confirmed that utilizing DoxyPEP is related to a lower over the previous 12 months within the frequency of analysis of illnesses akin to syphilis and gonorrhea, however considerably just for chlamydia.

Nonetheless, the researchers stress that these findings ought to be interpreted “with warning, as they’re based mostly on self-reported knowledge, and essential elements akin to period or adherence to DoxyPEP weren’t adequately captured within the survey.”

Want for regulation and tips for secure use of DoxyPEP

In any case, for the researchers, “Lack of regulation and decision-making can result in the misuse of doxycycline as a preventive technique in treatment regimens that aren’t based mostly on strong proof, on the one hand, and the acquisition of the drug by way of unregulated channels or by offering false data to healthcare professionals, on the opposite.”

On this sense, the authors stress the necessity for “a medical and scientific discourse that, in collaboration with civil society organizations devoted to sexual well being, formulates systematic and evidence-based tips for this preventive device, to ensure the standard of remedies and the coaching of the professionals liable for prescribing them.”