Wagner Laura, Boesecke Christoph, Baumgarten Axel, Scholten Stefan, Schellberg Sven, Hoffmann Christian, Audebert Franz, Noe Sebastian, Erber Johanna, Lee Marcel, Triebelhorn Julian, Schneider Jochen, Spinner Christoph D, Voit Florian
TUM School of Medicine and Health, Department of Clinical Medicine, Clinical Department for Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
University Hospital Bonn, Department of Internal Medicine I, Bonn, Germany.
Infection. 2025 Feb;53(1):61-70. doi: 10.1007/s15010-024-02321-x. Epub 2024 Jul 23.
Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (Doxy-PEP) reduces the likelihood of Chlamydia and early syphilis by approximately two-thirds. Currently, data on the frequency of Doxy-PEP use in men who have sex with men (MSM) are limited. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude towards, and frequency of Doxy-PEP use among MSM in Germany.
We conducted a national online survey in Germany from summer to fall 2023, recruiting MSM and transgender women. Participants were invited to complete the online survey through social media, online dating platforms, and print media advertisements with active recruitment and poster advertising in private practices, tertiary outpatient clinics, and MSM community events in Germany.
In total, 438 participants completed the survey and were included in the analysis, and 285 (65.1%) were living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or taking HIV-pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Overall, 170 participants (38.8%) had heard of Doxy-PEP, and 275 (62.8%) would consider taking it, but only 32 (7.3%) reported having ever taken Doxy-PEP. The most common reason for a negative attitude towards Doxy-PEP were apprehension about insufficient detailed information, and concerns about antibiotic resistance. Doxy-PEP users were more likely to be on HIV-PrEP, had a higher self-reported risk of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and often had a history of bacterial STIs.
The study demonstrated high awareness and strong interest in Doxy-PEP among MSM in Germany, most of whom were living with HIV or taking HIV-PrEP; however, the actual usage of Doxy-PEP remains low in the summer and fall of 2023.
多西环素暴露后预防（多西环素 - PEP）可将衣原体感染和早期梅毒的发生几率降低约三分之二。目前，男男性行为者（MSM）使用多西环素 - PEP频率的数据有限。本研究旨在评估德国男男性行为者对多西环素 - PEP的知晓情况、态度及使用频率。
2023年夏秋两季，我们在德国开展了一项全国性在线调查，招募男男性行为者和跨性别女性。通过社交媒体、在线约会平台以及平面媒体广告邀请参与者完成在线调查，并在德国的私人诊所、三级门诊以及男男性行为者社区活动中进行积极招募和张贴海报宣传。
共有438名参与者完成调查并纳入分析，其中285人（65.1%）感染了人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）或正在接受HIV暴露前预防（PrEP）。总体而言，170名参与者（38.8%）听说过多西环素 - PEP，275人（62.8%）会考虑使用，但只有32人（7.3%）报告曾使用过多西环素 - PEP。对多西环素 - PEP持消极态度的最常见原因是担心信息不够详细以及对抗生素耐药性的担忧。使用多西环素 - PEP的人更有可能正在接受HIV - PrEP，自我报告的细菌性性传播感染（STIs）风险更高，且常有细菌性性传播感染病史。
该研究表明德国男男性行为者对多西环素 - PEP的知晓度高且兴趣浓厚，其中大多数人感染了HIV或正在接受HIV - PrEP；然而，在2023年夏秋两季，多西环素 - PEP的实际使用率仍然很低。
