Antibacterial Mouthwash for Pharyngeal Gonorrhea Prevention

This study aims to determine acceptability and preliminary efficacy of daily use of an antibacterial mouthwash as compared to a placebo mouthwash in reducing the incidence of pharyngeal gonorrhea among a cohort of HIV-positive and high risk HIV-negative men.

Investigators plan to test the following hypotheses:

1. Participants will maintain a high level of adherence and satisfaction with daily mouthwash use. Furthermore, the investigators hypothesize that barriers to adherence will include structural factors such as unstable housing and individual level factors such as substance use.
2. Participants receiving the antibacterial mouthwash will have a lower incidence of pharyngeal gonorrhea as compared to participants receiving the placebo mouthwash. Furthermore, the investigators hypothesize that these reductions will remain even after adjusting for other factors such as HIV-status and substance use.

The proposed study will build on the NIH/NIDA funded mSTUDY (U01 DA036267 PIs Gorbach and Shoptaw), which is a longitudinal study designed to assess the impact of substance use and HIV on minority MSM. Participants in the proposed study will be those enrolled in the mSTUDY and the objectives of this study are to measure the preliminary efficacy and acceptability of antibacterial mouthwash use for the prevention of pharyngeal gonorrhea among a cohort of high risk HIV-negative and HIV-positive MSM. In order to achieve this goal the investigators propose to conduct a double-blind, randomized, crossover trial of daily antibacterial mouthwash use as compared to a placebo mouthwash among mSTUDY participants at high risk for pharyngeal gonorrhea (i.e. previously diagnosed with pharyngeal gonorrhea). Participants will be followed for a total of 24 weeks, with each participant receiving 12-weeks of antibacterial mouthwash and 12-weeks of placebo mouthwash.

After providing written informed consent, participants will complete a computer-based questionnaire, provide biological specimen, and will be randomly allocated to their study group. The study survey will include questions that are collected as part of mSTUDY as well as questions relevant to the proposed study. Following the questionnaire, participants will provide a bio-specimen for STI testing including: (1) urine, for chlamydia and gonorrhea testing; (2) rectal and pharyngeal swabs for gonorrhea and chlamydia testing; and (3) blood, which is used for syphilis and HIV testing, and HIV-1 RNA levels (for HIV-positive).

Participants will be randomly allocated to either first receive a 12-week antibacterial mouthwash followed by 12-weeks of placebo mouthwash or start with 12-weeks of placebo mouthwash and crossover to 12-weeks of antibacterial mouthwash. The antibacterial mouthwash and placebo are commercially available products (Cool Mint Listerine® Antiseptic mouthwash and Biotene® Oral Rinse respectively) and are selected based on evidence demonstrating inhibitory effects of the antibacterial mouthwash (Cool Mint Listerine® Antiseptic mouthwash) against N. gonorrhoeae. In order to ensure concealment of study allocation and to allow for blinding, the following procedures will be instituted:

1. the investigators will generate a computerized randomization sequence (active condition first, placebo second or placebo first, active condition second). The randomization sequence will be linked to the study identification number and maintained by study staff not involved in participant contact or data management/analysis;
2. the mouthwash will be in bottles in such a way to ensure that the placebo and active product have an identical look. While the products packaging will have a similar look a label with the study ID will allow us to link the bottle to the content. At the time of study enrollment, all participants will receive a 12-week supply of mouthwash according to their randomized study group (antibacterial or placebo) and will be instructed on how to rinse and gargle with the mouthwash on a daily basis.

When participants return for the 12-week visit, they will receive another 12-week supply, which will be the crossover condition to what was assigned at baseline. Participants will be instructed to stop using any other mouthwash they may have been using prior to study enrollment. All participants will be asked to return to the study site for a 12-week follow-up visit. This visit is a study specific visit and is the only visit of the three study visits that does not overlap with an mSTUDY follow-up visit. Participants will be asked to complete a computer-based survey to collect information comparable to what was collected at baseline including information on sexual behaviors, substance use, and oral hygiene practices. Additionally, participants will be asked to complete questions regarding study mouthwash us including frequency and timing of mouthwash use (i.e., intervention fidelity) and acceptability of mouthwash. Pharyngeal swabs will be collected in order to test for gonorrhea including nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) and culture testing. All participants will be asked to return in 12-weeks (i.e., 24-weeks from baseline) which will coincide with an mSTUDY visit and data collection procedures from baseline will be repeated including laboratory testing for STIs and survey administration.

Eligibility Criteria:
This study will only include participants recruited as part an NIH/NIDA funded study (U01 DA036267 PIs Gorbach and Shoptaw) - the mSTUDY. By design, half of the participants are HIV-positive and half are HIV-negative and other inclusion criteria for the mSTUDY are as follows:

1. At least 18 but not older than 45 years of age on day of consent
2. Identified biologically male at birth
3. Willing to return for follow-up study visits every 6 months as long as the study is ongoing and be available to return for all study visits, barring unforeseen circumstances
4. Willing and able to provide written informed consent to take part in the study
5. Willing and able to provide adequate information for locator purposes
6. STI testing at each study visit (with reporting and treatment referral when indicated)
7. Understands and agrees to local STI reporting requirements
8. If HIV-negative at screening, report unprotected anal intercourse with a male in the past 6 months

   Additional inclusion criteria specific to this study are:
9. Currently enrolled in mSTUDY
10. mSTUDY participants who have turned 45 since enrollment in mSTUDY continue to be eligible for inclusion in this study.
11. Previously diagnosed with pharyngeal gonorrhea (while an mSTUDY participant)

Participants will be excluded from the study if:

1. Mouthwash use is contraindicated, for example because of allergies or those who may need to avoid the high alcohol content of mouthwash such as recovery alcoholics maintaining their sobriety
2. They are unwilling to stop use of their current mouthwash during the 24-week study period