Incidence of concurrent sexually transmitted infections in patients with genital warts

Abstract

A case-note audit of patients presenting to a genitourinary (GU) medicine clinic with external genital warts during a six-month period was conducted. Approximately 40% of patients were referred by a general practitioner or other primary care agency, and >50% were suitable for home-based treatment. Overall incidence of co-existing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the study population was 14.0%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that age <25 years and presence of other genital symptoms were risk factors for co-existing STIs. All patients with a non-chlamydial STI had genital symptoms. We recommend that patients with uncomplicated genital warts and no additional genital symptoms can be treated in primary care, with chlamydia-screening offered to those aged <25 years.