[Primary care management of sexually transmitted infections (I). Epidemiology. Secreting syndrome]. / Manejo en atención primaria de las infecciones de transmisión sexual (I). Epidemiología. Síndrome secretor.

These days sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are important public health problems not only due to their high prevalence, but also because they require early diagnosis and treatment to avoid complications. In recent years, there has been an exponential increase in cases of infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and gonococcus in the population under 25years of age. In addition, an increase in the incidence of syphilis and hepatitisC (HCV) has also been detected, especially in men who have sex with other men (MSM). Genital herpes continues to be the second most frequent STI in the world, behind condyloma acuminata, and the first cause of genital ulcer among Spain in the sexually active population. A decrease in reported HIV cases was observed during 2020, but almost half of these new cases had a late diagnosis (<350CD4cell/µL). Current guidelines recommend offering STI annual screening to populations at risk or more often depending on the risk. STIs can appear in the form of syndromes, such as secretory syndrome (urethritis, proctitis, and cervicitis) or ulcerated syndrome (ulcers). The STIs that can cause secretory syndrome are mainly caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and C.trachomatis, which co-infect up to 40% of cases, and also cause urethritis, cervicitis or proctitis depending on where they are located. Gonococcus has an incubation period of 2-7days and Chlamydia 2-6weeks, and they are diagnosed using PCR and/or culture (the last one only valid for gonococcus) of samples collected according to sexual activities. Empirical treatment to cover both germs will be accomplished with ceftriaxone, 1g single intramuscular dose plus doxycycline 100mg every 12h orally for 7days, or azithromycin 1g single dose orally (we will use azithromycin only if we suspect a poor compliance with treatment, difficulty in going to the control or in pregnancy). Likewise, whenever we diagnose an STI firstly, we must offer advice and health education in order to promote the adoption of safe sexual behaviours and the correct use of barrier methods. Secondly, we must also screen for other STIs (HIV, syphilis, hepatitisB, and hepatitisA andC depending on the risk), offer HBV and HAV vaccination if it is appropriate, and finally study and treat all sexual partners from the previous 3months.

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown in a biomedical research campus: A gender perspective analysis.

From March to September 2020, researchers working at a biomedical scientific campus in Spain faced two lockdowns and various mobility restrictions that affected their social and professional lifestyles. The working group "Women in Science," which acts as an independent observatory of scientific gender inequalities on campus launched an online survey to assess the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on scientific activity, domestic and caregiving tasks, and psychological status. The survey revealed differences in scientific performance by gender: while male researchers participated in a larger number of scientific activities for career development, female researchers performed more invisible scientific tasks, including peer review or outreach activities. Mental impact was greater in researchers caring for children or dependents, and this was aggravated for women. Results spot a disproportionate impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on female scientific career development, and urges for equity measures to mitigate the consequences of an increase in the gender gap in biomedical sciences for current and future pandemics.

[Monitoring and evaluation of hiv in catalonia, getting closer to the 90-90-90 objectives]. / Monitorización y evaluación del VIH en Cataluña, cada vez más cerca de los objetivos 90-90-90.

OBJECTIVE: Epidemiological surveillance of HIV infection allows monitoring its incidence as well as possible epidemiological changes, allowing specific interventions to be planned and their impact monitored. The objective of this article is to describe the results of the monitoring and evaluation of the response to the HIV epidemic in Catalonia, based on data included in the Integrated System of Epidemiological Surveillance of AIDS/HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections of Catalonia (SIVES). METHODS: A descriptive analysis of the data from the different sources of information of the SIVES was performed. The time period was defined based on the availability of data from each of the sources of information included in the analysis. The information was structured according to the conceptual representation of the cascade of HIV care, as described in the World Health Organization consolidated strategic information guidelines for HIV. RESULTS: Of the total of 4,849 new diagnoses notified (2012-2018), 86% were men, of these; the most frequently reported transmission group was men having sex with men with 65%. The trend in the number of new diagnoses decreased in all transmission groups. It is estimated that in 2018 there were 32,429 people living with HIV in Catalonia, of which 89% were diagnosed, of these, 83% were under follow-up in a specialized unit and 78% of them were under treatment. 73% of people in treatment had suppressed the viral load. CONCLUSIONS: SIVES as an integrated system of different sources of strategic information allows monitoring the HIV epidemic in Catalonia and evaluating the response to it, identifying key populations and determinants to acquire HIV, as well as the barriers to which people living with HIV they face to achieve viral suppression.

OBJETIVO: La vigilancia epidemiológica de la infección por el VIH permite monitorizar su incidencia así como eventuales cambios epidemiológicos, permitiendo planificar intervenciones específicas y monitorizar su impacto. El objetivo de este artículo fue describir los resultados de la monitorización y evaluación de la respuesta a la epidemia del VIH en Cataluña, a partir de los datos incluidos en el Sistema Integrado de Vigilancia Epidemiológica del Sida/VIH e Infecciones de transmisión sexual de Cataluña (SIVES). METODOS: Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de los datos de las diferentes fuentes de información del SIVES. El periodo de tiempo se definió a partir de la disponibilidad de los datos de cada una de las fuentes de información incluidas en el análisis. La información se estructuró de acuerdo a la representación conceptual de la cascada de diagnóstico y tratamiento de VIH, tal y como se describe en las directrices de información estratégica consolidada de la Organización Mundial de la Salud para el VIH. RESULTADOS: Del total de 4.849 nuevos diagnósticos notificados (2012-2018), el 86% eran hombres. De estos, el grupo de transmisión informado más frecuente fueron los hombres que tiene sexo con hombres con un 65%. La tendencia del número de nuevos diagnósticos descendió en todos los grupos de transmisión. Se estima que en 2018 había 32.429 personas viviendo con el VIH en Cataluña, de las cuales el 89% estaban diagnosticadas. De estas, el 83% estaban en seguimiento en una unidad especializada, y el 78% de ellas estaban en tratamiento. El 73% de las personas en tratamiento tenían la carga viral suprimida. CONCLUSIONES: El SIVES, como sistema integrado de diferentes fuentes de información estratégica, permite monitorizar la epidemia del VIH en Cataluña y evaluar la respuesta a la misma, identificando poblaciones claves y determinantes para adquirir el VIH, así como las barreras a las que se enfrentan las personas que viven con VIH para lograr a supresión viral.