Would men who have sex with men support less frequent screening for asymptomatic chlamydia and gonorrhoea to improve antibiotic stewardship? A qualitative study

Abstract

Background Men who have sex with men (MSM) taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are recommended to have screening for asymptomatic chlamydia and gonorrhoea every 3 months with high rates of asymptomatic chlamydia and gonorrhoea detected. However, there is little evidence about the effectiveness of this screening interval and there is increasing concern about antibiotic consumption and its impact on antimicrobial resistance. There have been calls to reconsider this frequent screening for chlamydia and gonorrhoea. We conducted interviews with MSM to assess their attitudes to 3-monthly chlamydia and gonorrhoea screening. Methods Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with MSM living in Victoria, Australia. Participants were aged 20–62 years and had been taking PrEP for at least 6 months. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed, and these data were investigated through reflexive thematic analysis. Results Thirteen interviews were conducted in August 2021. Participants were hesitant about reducing the screening frequency and reported that testing gave them a sense of security. While MSM recognised antimicrobial resistance was a concern, it did not impact their sexual behaviour, with many participants stating they would rather continue to take antibiotics to treat infections rather than adopt preventative measures such as condom use. Positive attitudes towards screening interval changes are more likely when PrEP patients are informed about the risks and benefits of sexual healthcare recommendations. Conclusion While MSM on PrEP were initially hesitant to changes in screening frequency, changes may be acceptable if transparent communication, presenting the benefits and harms of screening and treatment, was delivered by a trusted healthcare professional.