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Author:
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M. Aynalem, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, United States of America |
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Co-author(s):
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P.R. Kerndt, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, United States of America
H. Rotblatt, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, United States of America
J.A. Montoya, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, United States of America
R. Kim-Farley, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, United States of America
J.E. Fielding, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, United States of America
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Categories and topics:
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D17A Prevention Strategies - Multiple STI's |
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OBJECTIVES: To examine patterns of STD infection among performers in the adult film industry (AFI) and to present an industry model for an Exposure Control Plan (ECP) concurrent with the United States (US) Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and the Blood-borne Pathogen Standard.
METHODS: After an earlier HIV “outbreak” in 1998 in the AFI in Los Angeles, a community based organization was established to provide HIV PCR pre-employment screening and later added other STD testing in an effort to detect HIV and other STDs. Approximately 1400 actors utilize this service and 400-500 actors are tested each month with an STD/HIV PCR screening panel. STD morbidity was reported to the health department. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. A taskforce was convened to develop an ECP for the industry.
RESULTS: Of approximately 1500 people tested between January 2003 and March 2005, approximately 8.4 percent had at least one disease. Nearly 48.1 percent tested positive for Chlamydia, and 23.6 percent for gonorrhea. During this period, approximately 976 individuals were reported with 1153 positive test results. Males comprised 33%, females 67%, whites 13%, African Americans 6.6%, Hispanics 2.4%, unknown race/ethnicity 76.6% and 40% were between 20 and 24 years of age. Of the 1153 positive test results 722 (62.6 %) were Chlamydia, 355 (30.8 %) were gonorrhea and 126 (10.9 %) were Chlamydia and gonorrhea co-infections. The taskforce developed an ECP for the industry to be implemented.
CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of recurrent and multiple STD infections in this industry emphasizes the urgent need for a written worker health and safety plan emphasizing primary prevention by requiring barrier protection, appropriate immunizations, worker training, and medical surveillance, including HIV/STD screening and when possible STD treatment.
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