The national STD surveillance system in Italy: results of the first year of activity. STD Surveillance Working Group.
A prospective STD surveillance system was developed in Italy in 1990. Newly diagnosed cases of sexually transmitted disease (STD) are reported by a network of 45 sentinel STD clinics throughout the country. A total of 10,253 patients were reported between September 1990 and December 1991. The most frequent diagnoses were genital warts (30.8%), non-specific genital infection (male) (12.8%), and non-specific genital infection (female) (11.5%). All patients were asked to undergo an HIV test; 68.4% accepted, of whom 9.3% were seropositive. During the 16-month study period HIV prevalence decreased among IDUs and homo-bisexuals, but increased among non-IDU heterosexuals. These data suggest that STD patients may represent a useful early warning system to detect changes in the epidemic and in the spread of the virus among low-risk heterosexuals. A better counselling programme is needed to improve the acceptance rate of HIV testing among STD patients, and to draw more attention to at-risk sexual behaviours.
National AIDS Centre, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
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Suligoi
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Giuliani
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Binkin
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011322:Primary Prevention; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D012736:Sex Education; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications