Comparing routine presumptive antibiotics with doxycycline after sex to prevent STIs in Kenyan cisgender men who have sex with men
WHO-recommended Periodic Presumptive Treatment versus Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for STI Control among Cisgender Men Who Have Sex with Men in Kenya
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · NIH-11458049
This project compares giving routine preventive antibiotics versus taking doxycycline after sex to reduce gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis among cisgender men who have sex with men in Kenya.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SEATTLE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11458049 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would be joining a study that compares two different ways to prevent common STIs when lab testing is hard to get: WHO-recommended periodic presumptive treatment (regular preventive antibiotics) and doxycycline taken after sex (doxyPEP), each compared to the usual symptom-based care. The team will enroll cisgender men who have sex with men in Kenya, offer one of the prevention approaches, and follow participants over time to track new infections, side effects, and costs. They will also look for signs of antibiotic resistance and collect data needed to understand which approach works best in this setting. The goal is to find a practical, affordable way to lower STI rates now while point-of-care tests are still being developed.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are cisgender men who have sex with men in Kenya, especially those with recent condomless anal sex, multiple partners, or recent STI exposure.
Not a fit: People who are not cisgender men who have sex with men, who live outside the Kenyan study areas, or who cannot take doxycycline or the study antibiotics would not be eligible or likely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lower rates of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis among Kenyan MSM and inform public health guidelines on affordable STI prevention strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous trials in well-resourced settings have shown doxycycline taken after sex can reduce bacterial STIs, and WHO has previously recommended periodic presumptive treatment, but effectiveness and resistance risks in Kenyan MSM remain uncertain.
Where this research is happening
SEATTLE, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON — SEATTLE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: GRAHAM, SUSAN MARIE — UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- Study coordinator: GRAHAM, SUSAN MARIE
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus