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Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Viability by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Assessment of Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Viability by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in Men Who Have Sex With Men

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05959408
Acronym
VISTH
Enrollment
600
Registered
2023-07-25
Start date
2023-04-18
Completion date
2024-04-30
Last updated
2023-07-25

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Men Who Have Sex With Men

Keywords

Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium, viability PCR, Nucleic acid amplification tests

Brief summary

It is a cross-sectional, without risk or constraint, monocentric study on the viability of the main bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in men who have sex with men (MSM). The main objective is to evaluate the proportion of pharyngeal, urogenital and anal specimens detected positive by nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Mycoplasma genitalium that contain viable bacteria in MSM.

Detailed description

Screening for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae STIs at 3 anatomical sites, i.e. pharyngeal, urogenital and anal, is recommended every three to six months in MSM with high-risk sexual behaviors, using NAAT. A positive NAAT result defines the patient as infected, and the patient will receive antibiotic treatment. However, repeated use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of multi-drug resistant strains of M. genitalium, another STI agent, and N. gonorrhoeae, and to changes in the gut microbiota. One disadvantage of NAATs is that they amplify the nucleic acids of viable and dead bacteria. Thus, it is not possible to affirm that the patient has an active infection, defined by the presence of viable bacteria. Bacterial viability can be studied by real-time PCR (called V-PCR). This method combines the high sensitivity and specificity of PCR with the ability to exclude detection of nucleic acid remnants from non-viable bacteria. It does so by incorporating a sample pretreatment step with a membrane impermeable DNA intercalating dye prior to molecular analysis by blocking amplification of remnant DNA from non-viable bacteria. This allows the V-PCR analysis to detect DNA originating from intact (i.e. viable) bacteria. Using V-PCR, studies in women have shown that only half of the anorectal samples and one quarter of the pharyngeal samples positive for C. trachomatis contain viable bacteria. The team proposes to investigate the presence of viable C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae and M. genitalium bacteria by V-PCR in pharyngeal, urogenital and anal specimens from MSM detected as positive by NAAT for these bacteria. The results of this work will allow us to assess whether all types of specimens tested in these patients contain viable bacteria, and if so, in what proportions.

Interventions

PROCEDURECollection of throat swab

Introduction of a cotton swab for self-collection

PROCEDURECollection of anal swab

Introduction of a cotton swab for self-collection

PROCEDURECollection of first void urine

first void urine collected on urine pot

Sponsors

University Hospital, Bordeaux
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

It is a cross-sectional, without risk or constraint, monocentric study on the viability of the main bacterial STIs in MSM.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Males \> 18 years * Men who have sex with men * Participant consulting at the Bordeaux University Hospital * Oral consent to participate in the study * Member or beneficiary of a social security system

Exclusion criteria

* Participant \< 18 years * Participant subject to a legal protection measure (protection of the court, guardianship or curator). * Participant deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Proportion of pharyngeal, urogenital, and anal specimens that contain viable C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, and M. genitalium bacteria detected by V-PCR out of all specimens containing these same bacteria detected by NAAT in MSMDay 1The quantitative real-time PCR, performed on the aliquots, will target the bacteria detected by NAAT on the native sample. The quantitative real-time PCR will be performed on the Light Cycler 480 (Roche Diagnostics); the calibration curve will permit to quantify the bacterial load (result expressed in equivalent genomes per mL).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Ratio of the number of participants testing positive by NAAT and V-PCR, respectively, for C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, and M. genitalium at at least one site to the total number of participants.Day 1Prevalence of C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, and M. genitalium infections detected by NAAT versus V-PCR calculated
Ratio of the number of pharyngeal, urogenital, and anal specimens testing positive for C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, or M. genitalium by NAAT and V-PCR, respectively, to the total number of pharyngeal, urogenital, and anal samples collectedDay 1Prevalence of C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, and M. genitalium infections detected by NAAT versus V-PCR calculated
Evaluate the rate of participants who received antibiotic treatment in the absence of viable bacteria in the sample out of all treated participants.Day 1Number of participants who will have received antibiotic treatment in the absence of viable bacteria divided by the total number of participants with a positive NAAT result.
Ratio of bacterial load of viable bacteria to total bacterial load (viable and nonviable bacteria) in each specimen.Day 1Ratio of bacterial load of viable bacteria determined by quantitative real-time PCR (gEq/µL) to total bacterial load (viable and nonviable bacteria) determined by quantitative real-time PCR (gEq/µL) in each specimen.
Ratio of the number of N. gonorrhoeae resistant to penicillin G, cefixime, ceftriaxone, azithromycin, tetracycline, spectinomycin and ciprofloxacin to the number of N. gonorrhoeae strains tested.Day 1Prevalence of N. gonorrhoeae resistance to penicillin G, cefixime, ceftriaxone, azithromycin, tetracycline, spectinomycin, and ciprofloxacin assessed by the ratio of the number of N. gonorrhoeae resistant to penicillin G, cefixime, ceftriaxone, azithromycin, tetracycline, spectinomycin and ciprofloxacin to the number of N. gonorrhoeae strains tested.

Countries

France

Contacts

Primary ContactOlivia PEUCHANT, PharmD
olivia.peuchant@chu-bordeaux.fr+335 56 79 56 67
Backup ContactCharles CAZANAVE, MD, PhD
charles.cazanave@chu-bordeaux.fr+335 56 79 55 36

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026