Sexual behaviors and risk of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales carriage: a cross-sectional analysis

Objectives: Sexual transmission of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) is suspected. We aimed to identify clusters of sexual behavior associated with ESBL-E carriage among individuals at risk of sexually transmitted infections (STI).

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients attending an STI-screening center and HIV outpatient clinic in Paris, France between 2018-2019 were asked questions on the following sexual activities in the last 6 months: receptive/insertive anal intercourse, passive/active rimming, receptive/insertive fellatio, receptive/insertive fisting, receptive/insertive fingering, active/passive cunnilingus. ESBL-E carriage was determined from rectal swabs. Bayesian latent class analysis was used to identify clusters of sexual activity, which were then associated with ESBL-E carriage using logistic regression.

Results: Among 1211 men who have sex with men (MSM), those belonging to two latent classes with higher prevalence of insertive fingering and active rimming (ESBL-E prevalence=15.3%, N=124 and 16.0%, N=100) and one class with higher proportions of all behaviors (24.3%, N=70) had a higher risk of ESBL-E carriage compared to those in a class with few sexual behaviors (7.3%, N=259) after adjustment. Among 439 other men and 479 women, no clear associations between sexual clusters and ESBL-E carriage were observed.

Conclusions: Sexual behaviors are associated with varying degrees of ESBL-E carriage, particularly among MSM.