Campylobacter spp. in men who have sex with men: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES

Campylobacter spp. has been reported to be a sexually transmissible enteric infection in men who have sex with men (MSM) since the 1980s causing an acute severe diarrhoeal illness and rarely an acute demyelinating polyneuropathy (Guillain-Barré syndrome). The aim of this review was to explore the factors seen in MSM with Campylobacter spp.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines by searching 7 bibliographical databases in August 2024 for manuscripts in English. Initial screening was conducted by a primary author and then two authors conducted independent full-text reviews to determine the final eligible manuscripts. We only included manuscripts which explored factors seen in MSM with Campylobacter spp.. Two authors independently used the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools to assess risk for bias. This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023464803).

RESULTS

25 manuscripts met the inclusion criteria that included 265 MSM with Campylobacter spp.. This review has highlighted demographic factors (living with HIV, living in urban MSM districts, HIV negative MSM using HIV-PrEP), biological factors (antimicrobial resistant Campylobacter spp., having a concurrent or previous sexually transmitted infection [Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Herpes simplex virus, Hepatitis C, Mpox] current/previous enteric infection including non-pathogenic parasites [Shigella spp., Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba histolytica, Salmonella spp., Entamoeba hartmanii, Entamoeba coli, Endolimax nana, Iodamoeba butchlii]) and behavioural factors (condomless receptive anal sex, oral-anal sex, oral genital sex, multiple/new sexual partners, using sex on premises venues and the internet to meet sexual partners) seen in MSM with Campylobacter spp.

CONCLUSION

This review has highlighted some important demographic, biological and behavioural risk factors seen in MSM with Campylobacter spp.. These data can be used to inform future public health interventions and clinical guidelines.