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Intensive Screening for Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B in a Gay Bathhouse Does Not Lower the Prevalence of Infection

An attempt was made to reduce the rate of infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae among homosexual men who visit a bathhouse in Denver, Colorado, by the offer of screening cultures during the 24 hr per week of maximal use of the bathhouse. A total of 543 men were screened (646 tests). The rate of infection did not decline significantly (P less than 0.80) from the first month (31 of 272 men; 11.4%) to the third month (19 of 180 men; 10.6%) of the program. Early syphilis was detected in five (0.8%) of 606 men and hepatitis B surface antigen in 13 (3.3%) of 389 men tested. Serologic evidence of prior infection with Treponema pallidum and hepatitis B virus was found in 96 (19.3%) of 498 and 226 (58.1%) of 389 men tested, respectively. It was concluded that patrons of a gay bathhouse have a high risk of contracting gonorrhea, syphilis, and hepatitis B. Although intensive screening is a cost-effective method of detecting cases of gonorrhea, the screening program did not reduce the prevalence of infection.