The syphilis-HIV interdependency.

Resurgence in the incidence of HIV and syphilis infections has been reported from all Western European Countries and the USA during the past years, the majority of them in men who have sex with men. The attitude among HIV-positive patients towards the application of preventive measures is changing in comparison to the time immediately after the detection of the HIV. Furthermore, HIV care providers do not always talk in an open manner about safer sex and disclosure, with the result that a large group of patients regards oral sex as harmless with respect to the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). We illustrate this context by the case presented. Since both HIV and syphilis represent risk factors for the transmission of further STDs, their interdependency must be interrupted by promotion of early and effective STD-related health-care behaviours.