Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39042326›Full record

ArticleInfection2025

Is doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis being utilised in Germany? Insights from an online survey among German men who have sex with men.

Laura Wagner, Christoph Boesecke, Axel Baumgarten, Stefan Scholten, Sven Schellberg, Christian Hoffmann, Franz Audebert, Sebastian Noe, Johanna Erber, Marcel Lee and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Infection, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Emergent informal use of doxycycline post- and pre-exposure prophylaxis among men who have sex with men and transgender and gender diverse people, the Netherlands, 2024.Euro surveillance : bulletin Europeen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin · 2025
    Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Laura WagnerTUM School of Medicine and Health, Department of Clinical Medicine, Clinical Department for Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany. laura.wagner@mri.tum.de.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5184-8154
Christoph BoeseckeUniversity Hospital Bonn, Department of Internal Medicine I, Bonn, Germany.
Axel BaumgartenCenter for Infectiology, Berlin, Germany.
Stefan ScholtenPrivate Practice, Hohenstaufenring, Cologne, Germany.
Sven SchellbergNovopraxis Berlin GbR, Berlin, Germany.
Christian HoffmannICH Study Center, Hamburg, Germany.
Franz AudebertPraxiszentrum Alte Mälzerei, Regensburg, Germany.
Sebastian NoeMVZ München am Goetheplatz, Munich, Germany.
Johanna ErberTUM School of Medicine and Health, Department of Clinical Medicine, Clinical Department for Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Marcel LeeTUM School of Medicine and Health, Department of Clinical Medicine, Clinical Department for Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Julian TriebelhornTUM School of Medicine and Health, Department of Clinical Medicine, Clinical Department for Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Jochen SchneiderTUM School of Medicine and Health, Department of Clinical Medicine, Clinical Department for Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Christoph D SpinnerTUM School of Medicine and Health, Department of Clinical Medicine, Clinical Department for Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Florian VoitTUM School of Medicine and Health, Department of Clinical Medicine, Clinical Department for Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeDoxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (Doxy-PEP) reduces the likelihood of Chlamydia and early syphilis by approximately two-thirds. Currently, data on the frequency of Doxy-PEP use in men who have sex with men (MSM) are limited. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude towards, and frequency of Doxy-PEP use among MSM in Germany.

methodsWe conducted a national online survey in Germany from summer to fall 2023, recruiting MSM and transgender women. Participants were invited to complete the online survey through social media, online dating platforms, and print media advertisements with active recruitment and poster advertising in private practices, tertiary outpatient clinics, and MSM community events in Germany.

resultsIn total, 438 participants completed the survey and were included in the analysis, and 285 (65.1%) were living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or taking HIV-pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Overall, 170 participants (38.8%) had heard of Doxy-PEP, and 275 (62.8%) would consider taking it, but only 32 (7.3%) reported having ever taken Doxy-PEP. The most common reason for a negative attitude towards Doxy-PEP were apprehension about insufficient detailed information, and concerns about antibiotic resistance. Doxy-PEP users were more likely to be on HIV-PrEP, had a higher self-reported risk of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and often had a history of bacterial STIs.

conclusionThe study demonstrated high awareness and strong interest in Doxy-PEP among MSM in Germany, most of whom were living with HIV or taking HIV-PrEP; however, the actual usage of Doxy-PEP remains low in the summer and fall of 2023.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial AgentsDoxycyclineHomosexuality, MalePost-Exposure ProphylaxisAdultGermanyHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHIV InfectionsHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultAnti-Bacterial AgentsDoxycyclineDoxycyclineHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV)Post-exposure-prophylaxis (PEP)Pre-exposure-prophylaxis (PrEP)Sexually transmitted disease (STD)Sexually transmitted infection (STI)

Identifiers

PMID39042326
PMCPMC11825561

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.