OBJECTIVETo observe the trends on prevalence of early syphilis and HIV infection among men who had sex with men in the last six years from a HIV/AIDS counseling and testing clinic in Nanjing, and to develop relative strategies.

METHODSMen who have sex with men involved in AIDS/HIV and syphilis voluntary counseling and testing services were recruited and investigated from 2008 to 2013 in this clinic. Clients whose syphilis serologic test showed positive were determined the diagnosis by physician within the referral network from sexually transmitted diseases clinics. Demographic information on early syphilis, HIV infection or co-infection with HIV and early syphilis was described while related epidemic trend analysis was performed.

RESULTSThe annual numbers of men having sex with men under survey were 1 004 in 2008, 1 218 in 2009, 1 236 in 2010, 748 in 2011, 1 019 in 2012 and 1 420 in 2013. The prevalence rates of early syphilis appeared to be: 2.19% in 2008, 2.71% in 2009, 2.43% in 2010, 1.74% in 2011, 3.04% in 2012 and 2.32% in 2013, with the trend as: P > 0.05. The prevalence rates of HIV infection were 1.29% in 2008, 2.63% in 2009, 5.42% in 2010, 8.82% in 2011, 11.97% in 2012 and 10.42% in 2013, with trend as: P < 0.01. The prevalence rates of early syphilis with HIV infection increased from 0.20% in 2008 to 1.06% in 2013 (trend: P < 0.01). The proportion of HIV co-infection among men having sex with men with early syphilis infection, increased from 9.09% in 2008 to 45.45% in 2013, with trend: P < 0.01.

CONCLUSIONEarly syphilis infection among men who having sex with men showed a stable trend but the number of HIV and co-infections with early syphilis and HIV increased rapidly in the last six years in Nanjing. Continued intervention strategies should target on men who have sex with men to slow down the epidemic of syphilis and HIV infection.