Coincidence of hepatitis B-virus markers and other sexually transmitted diseases in different STD-risk groups

To evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis-B-virus (HBV)-markers in STD patients and the significance of promiscuous heterosexual activity as a risk factor for the transmission of HBV, a serological screening was performed in 499 patients, in addition to the routine STD diagnostic programme. Two groups of patients were evaluated: group 1 (120 patients) was drawn from the STD clinic of the Public Health Office (PHO), group 2 (379 patients) from a private STD outpatient clinic. Promiscuous activity was reported significantly more often by persons of group 1 than by those attending the private clinic (59.3% vs. 5.1%). The infection rate of gonorrhea, syphilis and Chlamydia trachomatis was high in patients of the PHO (46.7%, 35.3%, 27.5%) whereas most of the STDs were seldom ascertained in patients of the private clinic (1.1%, 0%, 5.6%). Similar to other STDs, the prevalence of HBV markers differed significantly between patients of the PHO and those of the private clinic (33.3% vs. 6.3%; p = .0000). Comparison of HBV and other STDs showed the highest coincidence of HBV markers in patients with serological evidence of syphilis (44.2%), and in one third of patients with Neisseria gonorrhoeae as well as HIV infection. The data obtained in the present study demonstrate that also in Austria, in addition to homosexual preference and drug abuse, promiscuous heterosexual activity must be considered a substantial risk factor for the transmission of HBV.