By Melissa Jackson BBC News Online health staff

Condoms can protect against STIs

The 374 Clinic, which opened in Brixton at the beginning of the year, is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK.

But it has found 25% of men who have come to the clinic have a sexually transmitted infection.

The figures, which show many men are not practising safe-sex, have led the consultant who launched the project to warn the area could become a hotspot for HIV within the next decade.

The most common STIs it has treated are chlamydia and non-specific urethritis (NSU), which causes inflammation of the urethra - the tube in the penis that carries urine from the bladder to the outside.

There have also been a handful of cases of syphilis, gonorrhoea, herpes and genital warts.

The drop-in clinic's consultant in Genitourinary Medicine, David Lewis, said: "Twenty five per cent of men testing positive is quite high, considering that more than half of our clients came in without any symptoms.

Where you have a high rate of sexually transmitted diseases, that is where HIV can erupt David Lewis, consultant, 374 Clinic

"We know Brixton is one of the worst areas for gonorrhoea and chlamydia.

"But we have deliberately targeted the clinic in an area of high STI prevalence."

Although none of the 123 men who visited the clinic in its first six months tested positive for HIV, Mr Lewis said he fears it is only a matter of time before someone does.

He said: "Where you have a high rate of sexually transmitted diseases, that is where HIV can erupt.

"It is a sign that a lot of unsafe sex is going on and raises concerns that there may well be a rise in cases of HIV in south-east London in the next 10 years."

He makes his point by referring to South Africa, which is in the grip of an HIV and Aids epidemic, and suggests this was caused by people practising unsafe sex.

Mr Lewis said: "We have tried to make it as easy as possible by bringing the clinic to Brixton and operating it on a drop-in basis.

"Both these things are important if we are to reduce the rate of sexually transmitted infection in the area."

Young clients

Treatment for infections is given on the spot and follow-ups are routine.

The 374 Clinic is the only community clinic in south-east London to have a laboratory with microscopy facilities on the premises.

It means that men with symptoms of gonorrhoea can be tested and diagnosed on the same day.

Two-thirds of the clinic's patients are under 20 and a third are between 20 and 35.

Its youngest client was a 12-year-old, although he was not infected with anything, but a 13-year-old walked in with NSU.

"This shows how important it is to have education in schools," said Mr Lewis.

About 80% of the clinic's clients are Afro Caribbeans, two-thirds of whom are born in the UK.

It has also seen South American, Middle Eastern and Asian men.

The clinic at 374 Brixton Road, is open every Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Lewis said patients often use the word "comfortable" to describe the way they feel when visiting the clinic.

He is referring to the fact that they feel more at ease talking to men about sexual health - an area of the medical profession that is normally dominated by women.

One patient said: "It is very good that there is a clinic in Brixton so local people don't have to travel so far.

"The staff are friendly and top marks for the service."

The Terrence Higgins Trust believes Mr Mills is right to be concerned about HIV and Aids taking hold in south-east London.

Southwark, Lewisham and Lambeth (which includes Brixton) have the highest prevalence of HIV infection in the country, says the Trust.

A spokeswoman said: "HIV is now the fastest growing serious health condition in the UK and I think it is only a matter of time before this clinic diagnoses someone.

"But that is a good thing because it means they won't be able to pass it on to anyone else."