At the same time as the release of depressing figures by the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) showing a doubling of the annual rate of fresh HIV diagnoses in the UK, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has just issued two sets of recommendations on HIV prevention. Annual figures for new diagnoses […]
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HIV infection and female genital tract immunity
A recent article offers a systematic review of the literature concerning the influence of clinical characteristics (e.g. pregnancy or STI history) on female genital tract immunity to HIV. This review places itself against the background of an increasing shift in HIV research from systemic considerations relating to transmission of the infection – “the blood compartment” […]
Key recommendations for STI screening in US
The American College of Obstretricians and Gynecologists has just published its updated schedule of recommended screenings, tests and immunizations for periodic assessments or “well woman exams”. These annual assessments of women aged 21 and above are a key instrument of primary care in the US. Their free provision is being considered for inclusion in the […]
Just supposing Trichomonas Vaginalis proved not to be an exclusively sexually transmitted infection after all …… ?
A recent laboratory study based on specimens from 766 US patients with vaginal symptoms evaluates the performance of the current US FDA (Federal Drugs Administration) approved diagnostic test for Trichomonas Vaginalis (BD Affirm VPIII hybridization) against a modern molecular amplification based test (Gen-Probe Aptima). The greater sensitivity of the new test emerges clearly in this […]
What role for antiretroviral microbicides in the future combat against HIV?
At the recent Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), meeting in Boston (27th February – 2nd March) researchers reported results from two trials involving the use of antiretroviral drugs, currently used in therapy, for the prevention of HIV transmission. These trials (MTN 001 & RMP-02/MTN-006) are just two among a whole programme of HIV-related […]
Chlamydia Internet-based self-screening: ‘another tool in our tool-box’?
A recent paper gives details of an Internet-based self-screening programme for Chlamydia in Baltimore, Maryland, running since 2004. The web site was advertised on the radio and in free community magazines, and kits made available at community locations, or sent on the Internet or in response to phone request. Participants return a questionnaire with their […]
Do intravaginal practices make African women susceptible to HIV?
February saw the publication of what is probably the largest study of the association in sub-Saharan Africa between intravaginal practices – e.g. cleaning with cloth, paper or soap – and HIV incidence. It is a meta-analysis pooling data of 15,000 women deriving from 13 prospective longitudinal cohort studies. A preponderance of HIV affected sub-Saharans are […]
New STI surveillance data in England
STI surveillance in England has taken a major step forward with the first publication of STI data based on GUMCAD (Genitourinary Medicine Clinic Activity Dataset). For the first time, the genitourinary medicine(GUM) clinic data are based on a disaggregate dataset, using pseudonymised individual level data, rather than an aggregate summary. As a consequence, we […]