A diagnosis of syphilis among men who have sex with men (MSM) may indicate that they are good candidates for Truvada (tenofovir/emtricitabine) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV.

Publishing their findings in Sexually Transmitted Infections, researchers studied 206 men diagnosed with early syphilis at a London sexual health clinic between January and June 2014.

Fifty-three percent (110 of 206) of the men were HIV negative at the outset of the study; the rest were HIV positive.

The researchers followed the HIV-negative participants through February 2016, for a cumulative 144 years. During that time, 12 of them (11 percent) were diagnosed with HIV, for an infection rate of 8.3 percent per year.

The researchers concluded that PrEP and regular STI screenings are good tools to reduce the risk of HIV after a man who has sex with men has been diagnosed with syphilis.

To read the study abstract, click here.