Sexually Transmitted Infections in the Residual Forces Participating in Military Missions- Diagnostic and Prophylactic (original) (raw)
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The Polish Journal of Aviation Medicine and Psychology, 2013
The number of women on military missions has been increasing recently. While on military missions, they live in an isolated group dominated by men. Such groups consist of young, sexually active individuals, thus increasing the risk of sexually transmitted infections. Medical examinations were performed on various residual forces (military, police, security guards) totaling 579 individuals, up to 35 years of age (172 women and 407 men). Subjects qualifi ed for the study were divided into 2 groups. Group I consisted of persons who remained in the country. Group II included persons stationed on military missions abroad. A total of 306 soldiers from this group participated in Study 1. Study 2 (clinical and laboratory) was carried out 6-12 months later on 52 patients from Group II and 119 patients from Group I (84 women and 87 men). Additionally, transcription of HPV genes E6 and E7 (with high oncogenic risk) was carried out in the group made up of 200 women. Laboratory examinations included: peripheral blood morphology, lymphocyte subpopulations by fl ow cytometry method (CD45, CD3, CD19, CD4, CD8 markers and NK cells CD16+CD56 markers), IL-2, IL-4, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-18 concentration by fl ow cytometry method. IgG, IgA, IgM concentration by turbidimetric method and
Sexually transmitted infections in the military environment
International Maritime Health, 2020
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have always been a major health issue affecting military personnel in all types of services and in all armed forces around the world, especially during deployments and in operational settings. Although the research shows that STIs are still reported in the military, the epidemiological risk for contracting a sexually transmitted infection is much lower nowadays than it was in the past. It is important, however, that service members are routinely screened for sexually transmitted diseases. Because of a high prevalence of STIs in the general population as well as the asymptomatic nature of some infections (e.g. HIV, Chlamydia trachomatis), screening of the sexually active service personnel is recommended as a practical method of preventing the spread of STIs and their sequelae, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, infertility in women or epididymitis, prostatitis, infertility in men. The rates of STIs in service members have been on the increase in recent years, which may be associated with the fact that more and more women are now seeking a career in the armed forces. Currently, STIs do not only affect male soldiers or their civilian sexual partners (either long-term or casual), but both male and female soldiers alike, especially if they are serving together. The article focuses on the prevalence of STIs in the military in the past and at present, the common STI risk factors and prevention measures.
Journal of Archives in Military Medicine
Background: Historically, the US Military has made significant contributions toward the treatment and prevention of common sexually transmitted infections (STI) including syphilis, gonorrhea, and human immunodeficiency virus. Although there have been numerous studies evaluating the prevalence of STIs among service members, there is a lack in studies that evaluate the prevalence of STIs acquired by U.S. military personnel during the deployment period. Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate the rates of sexually transmitted infections (STI) among U.S. military personnel within the deployment period to determine if further studies are needed to evaluate its significance on public health. Data Sources: We retrospectively collected data published between the years 2005 to 2018 of US military active duty members who tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes simplex virus I (HSV I), herpes simplex virus II (HSV II), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Syphilis. We performed a literature review using Medline, PubMed, and Google Scholar to collect data from publications related to sexually transmitted infections among U.S. military servicemen published between the years 2005-2018. Study Eligibility Criteria: Inclusion criteria for post-deployment group included those who tested positive for a given STI during deployment (time spent during active duty) and those who tested positive in the period up 180 days upon returning from deployment. Results: The total sample size from our study included 4984014 active duty military personnel, of which 1321706 (27%) individuals had a prior history of deployment. From the total sample size, 265886 (5.3%) of service members had a positive STI diagnosis. Among those with a positive STI diagnosis, 9083 (1.7%) were diagnosed while they were deployed, whereas 14121 (2.7%) were diagnosed in within 180 days of returning home. Conclusions: Although there is insufficient data regarding pre-deployment versus post-deployment rates of sexually transmitted infections, the available data we analyzed regarding post-deployment STI suggests that it may be beneficial to screen service members for common STIs immediately upon return from deployment. Individuals who are predisposed to participating in high risk sexual behavior pose a higher risk of returning home with a sexually transmitted infection. Therefore, a screening questionnaire administered upon return from deployment to stratify high risk sexual behavior would be beneficial in identifying individuals that need to be tested for STIs. Deployed soldiers returning home with STIs have the potential to infect their spouses/significant others. In addition, the risk of untreated STIs has the potential to pose a public health issue, especially when considering that overseas deployed soldiers may contract strains of viruses or bacteria that have the potential to develop resistance to current standard of treatment within the United States. Additional studies are needed to further evaluate the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among the post-deployment group.
PloS one, 2016
Numerous studies have found higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among military personnel than the general population, but the cumulative risk of acquiring STIs throughout an individual's military career has not been described. Using ICD-9 diagnosis codes, we analyzed the medical records of 100,005 individuals from all service branches, divided in equal cohorts (n = 6,667) between 1997 and 2011. As women receive frequent STI screening compared to men, these groups were analyzed separately. Incidence rates were calculated for pathogen-specific STIs along with syndromic diagnoses. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the individuals within each accession year cohort; repeat infections were censored. The total sample included 29,010 females and 70,995 males. The STI incidence rates (per 100 person-years) for women and men, respectively, were as follows: chlamydia (3.5 and 0.7), gonorrhea (1.1 and 0.4), HIV (0.04 and 0.07) and syphilis (0.14 and 0.15). ...
Military Medicine, 2021
To address the ongoing epidemic of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (National Academies) conducted a consensus study on STI control and prevention in the United States to provide recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Association of County and City Health Officials. The culminating report identified military personnel as one of the priority groups that require special consideration given the high prevalence of STIs and their associated behaviors (e.g., concurrent sexual partners and infrequent condom use) that occur during active duty service. Universal health care access, the relative ease and frequency of STI screening, and the educational opportunities within the military are all assets in STI control and prevention. The report offers a comprehensive framework on multiple and interrelated influences on STI risk, prevention, health care access, deli...
International Maritime Health, 2014
This article presents the results of a preliminary study concerning cases of Chlamydia trachomatis infections among professional soldiers in the Polish Armed Forces. Soldiers who declared casual sexual contact with women were investigated in this study regarding the transmission of chlamydial infections by sexual activity. In total, 66 healthy, sexually active professional Polish soldiers, aged between 27 and 44, who didn't report any symptoms of urogenital infection were investigated. Urine samples taken from these patients were investigated using molecular methods (Cobas TaqMan, real-time PCR) in March-April 2012 in the Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland. In the investigated group of 66 Polish soldiers, two 33-34 year old men were asymptomatic carriers of Chlamydia trachomatis (3.0%). They confirmed having casual sexual activity without prevention with many women. In the examined group of Polish soldiers the relatively low level of chlamydial infections found may result from the use of preventive measures during sexual activity. According to the examined men, the common use of condoms is mainly connected with the fear of HIV infection. Screening tests for Chlamydia trachomatis in the Polish Armed Forces are not performed, therefore incidence rates of chlamydial infections remain unknown. The authors plan further investigations with a larger group of professional soldiers.