Periodic Presumptive Treatment vs. doxyPEP for STI Control in Kenyan MSM
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: WHO-recommended periodic presumptive treatment, Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Gonorrhea Male, Chlamydia (Male), Syphilis Male. Basic parameters: 18 years — 29 years · Male.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Kenya
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
WHO-recommended Periodic Presumptive Treatment Versus Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for STI Control Among Cisgender Men Who Have Sex With Men in Kenya
Overview
Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk for gonorrhea and chlamydia in Kenya, where nucleic acid amplification testing is not feasible and most infections therefore go undiagnosed. We propose an open-label randomized clinical trial with 2900 participants assigned to WHO-recommended periodic presumptive treatment (PPT) or doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxyPEP), compared to standard syndromic treatment, with 18 months of follow-up and rigorous culture-based and molecular analysis of antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This work will provide critical data needed to inform guidelines and improve STI control among MSM in sub-Saharan Africa and other resource-limited settings, including modelled estimates of the health and economic impact of scaling up these two interventions on STI control among MSM and their partners in Kenya.
Detailed description
Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk for gonorrhoea and chlamydia in Kenya, where nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) is not feasible, and most infections therefore go undiagnosed. In 2011, the WHO recommended periodic presumptive treatment (PPT) of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections for MSM at high risk for HIV acquisition due to condomless anal intercourse with multiple sex partners or a recent STI exposure. More recently, trials in well-resourced settings have demonstrated the efficacy of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxyPEP) for reducing NG, CT, and syphilis infections among high-risk MSM. The goal of this study is to evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of WHO-recommended PPT versus doxyPEP compared to standard syndromic treatment among Kenyan MSM. This study aims to (1) evaluate the effectiveness and impact on antimicrobial resistance in NG of WHO-recommended PPT given every 3 months and of doxy-PEP taken 24-72 hours after condomless sex for reducing STI burden among Kenyan MSM; (2) assess the acceptability, feasibility, and safety of implementing WHO-recommended PPT and doxy-PEP compared to standard care among providers and patients; and (3) model the health and economic impact of scaling up WHO-recommended STI PPT and doxyPEP compared to standard of care on STI control among MSM and their partners in Kenya. We will conduct an open-label randomized trial with 2900 participants to evaluate these two interventions versus standard care assigned in a 2:2:1 ratio, with 18 months of follow-up at three MSM-friendly research clinics in Kenya. Results will inform parameters to update a stochastic model of STI transmission and cost-effectiveness analysis to project the impact of scaled-up STI PPT and doxyPEP in Kenya. This work will provide the critical data needed to inform guidelines and improve STI control among this key population in sub-Saharan Africa and other resource-limited settings.
Interventions
- Drug WHO-recommended periodic presumptive treatment
400 mg po cefixime plus 1 gram azithromycin po under direct observation - Drug Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis
200 mg po doxycycline within 24-72 hours after condomless anal or vaginal sex as frequently as daily
Primary outcome measures
- Number of participants with NG, CT, or early syphilis infection (combined STI outcome) [Time frame: Over 18 months of follow-up at quarterly visits from the date of randomization]
Secondary outcome measures (3)
- Number of participants with Neisseria gonorrhea infection [Time frame: Over 18 months of follow-up at quarterly visits from the date of randomization]
- Number of participants with Chlamydia trachomatis infection [Time frame: Over 18 months of follow-up at quarterly visits from the date of randomization]
- Number of participants with early syphilis infection [Time frame: Over 18 months of follow-up at quarterly visits from the date of randomization]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- 18-29 years old
- Assigned male sex at birth
- Identifies as male (cis-gender)
- Reports condomless anal intercourse with a man in the past 6 months
- Reports multiple male sex partners OR a male sex partner with a syndromic (urethritis, proctitis, or genital ulcer disease) or laboratory-diagnosed sexually transmitted infection in the past 6 months
- Willing and able to provide written informed consent and participate in all study procedures
- Planning to remain in the study area for 18 months
Exclusion criteria
- Unable to understand the study purpose and procedures
- Allergy to cephalosporin (cefixime), macrolide (erythromycin or azithromycin), or tetracycline (doxycycline) class antibiotics
- Recent use of prolonged antibiotics (≥14-day course in the month before enrolment)
- Use of medications that impact cefixime, azithromycin, or doxycycline metabolism (check versus list in screening SOP)
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Other
Study locations
Kenya · 3 centers
- Anza Mapema Clinic — Kisumu
- University of Washington/Pwani Research Centre at the Ganjoni Municipal Clinic, Mombasa — Mombasa
- TRANSFORM Clinic — Nairobi
Publications
- Ochieng F, Wambua P, Kimani J, Wanjiru M, Agingu W, Kabuti R, Mdletshe N, McKinnon LR, Otieno FO, Mehta SD. Prevalence of and Factors Associated With Urethral and Rectal STIs Among a Cross-Sectional Sample Men Who Have Sex With Men. Sex Transm Dis. 2026 Jul 1;53(7):435-443. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002320. Epub 2026 Mar 24. PMID 41873979
- Graham SM, Otieno FO, Kimani J, Barrientos A, Soge OO, Sharma M, Hamilton DT, Celum C, McClelland RS, Sanders EJ. World Health Organization-Recommended Periodic Presumptive Treatment Versus Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for Sexually Transmitted Infection Control Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Kenya: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2026 Jan 6;15:e81113. doi: PMID 41494183
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06468462 · STUDY00018588 · 1R01AI179838-01