Rapidly progressive intravascular primary effusion lymphoma in an HIV-positive renal transplant recipient.

We describe the clinical and post-mortem findings of a case of rapidly progressive, ultimately fatal primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) arising in an HIV-positive man 2 years after renal transplantation. Disseminated multi-organ involvement associated with a peculiar intravascular pattern of growth, as seen in this case, has only been reported once previously. This is also, to our knowledge, the first detailed description of a lymphoma arising post-transplant in an HIV-positive patient.

Adequacy of contraception and missed opportunities for provision in a genitourinary medicine setting.

BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY: Sexually active women presenting to genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics are at risk of both sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies. Emergency hormonal contraception is the only contraceptive service provided in our GUM clinic in Birmingham, UK. We wanted to assess whether contraception use was adequate in women attending our clinic and whether we were missing opportunities to provide more reliable contraception. All new female patients attending the clinic in January 2006 had their notes reviewed to determine current contraception, adequacy of use and contraceptive advice given. RESULTS: A total of 266 women were eligible for contraception. Overall, 148 (56%) of the women used reliable methods. Fifty-five (21%) women were using no contraception and not planning a pregnancy. The under-20s, over-30s and ethnic minorities were more likely to use inadequate or no contraception. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Almost half (43%) the women attending our GUM clinic had inadequate or no contraception, and in addition documentation of contraceptive advice and further information was poor (5%). Young people and ethnic minorities seem particularly vulnerable and at present we are not addressing their contraceptive needs. We plan to conduct a prospective survey to assess this issue further and address feasibility for an on-site contraceptive service.

Partner notification of chlamydia infection in primary care: randomised controlled trial and analysis of resource use.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a practice nurse led strategy to improve the notification and treatment of partners of people with chlamydia infection. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: 27 general practices in the Bristol and Birmingham areas. PARTICIPANTS: 140 men and women with chlamydia (index cases) diagnosed by screening of a home collected urine sample or vulval swab specimen. INTERVENTIONS: Partner notification at the general practice immediately after diagnosis by trained practice nurses, with telephone follow up by a health adviser; or referral to a specialist health adviser at a genitourinary medicine clinic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome was the proportion of index cases with at least one treated sexual partner. Specified secondary outcomes included the number of sexual contacts elicited during a sexual history, positive test result for chlamydia six weeks after treatment, and the cost of each strategy in 2003 sterling prices. RESULTS: 65.3% (47/72) of participants receiving practice nurse led partner notification had at least one partner treated compared with 52.9% (39/68) of those referred to a genitourinary medicine clinic (risk difference 12.4%, 95% confidence interval -1.8% to 26.5%). Of 68 participants referred to the clinic, 21 (31%) did not attend. The costs per index case were 32.55 pounds sterling for the practice nurse led strategy and 32.62 pounds sterling for the specialist referral strategy. CONCLUSION: Practice based partner notification by trained nurses with telephone follow up by health advisers is at least as effective as referral to a specialist health adviser at a genitourinary medicine clinic, and costs the same. Trial registration Clinical trials: NCT00112255.

Treatment failure of vaginal trichomoniasis in clinical practice.

We have conducted a retrospective study of treatment failure of Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) infection in a busy, urban genitourinary medicine clinic in Birmingham, UK, between 1998 and 2002. The prevalence of non-response to standard doses of metronidazole without any history of reinfection or nonadherence was 1.7% (28/1603) overall, and has significantly increased from 0.38% in 1999 to 3.5% in 2002 (P = 0.001, chi2 test). There were no associated demographic factors. The majority of patients (53% or 15/28) responded to either a repeat of standard (10/26) or higher oral dose (5/7) of metronidazole. A standardized treatment algorithm using a high dose of metronidazole may be useful in the absence of any new, efficacious non-imidazole-based TV therapy in the clinical management of persistent TV infection.

An audit on HIV antibody test uptake amongst GUM clinic attendees in the West Midland region.

We audited the practice of offering, and the uptake of, an HIV antibody test amongst genitourinary medicine clinic patients in the West Midlands region. There were wide variations in the offering (from 14 to 100%) and uptake (18 to 64%) of the test in the different clinics within the same region.

An audit on the management of female victims of sexual assault attending a genitourinary medicine clinic.

The victims of sexual assault may attend GUM clinic without any referral from any other agency. The management of these cases need special care. We audited the management of females who were known to us as victims of sexual assault. In 15 months, 68 females attended our clinic. All were screened for sexually transmitted infections (STI). Emergency contraception was offered to only 38.4% at risk cases, and formal counselling support was offered to only 25% cases. Further care is necessary to improve counselling support and offering emergency contraception to the victims of sexual assault.

Impact of information leaflets on HIV test uptake amongst GUM clinic attendees: an update.

In the Sexual Health Strategy, the targets of HIV testing uptake in genitourinary medicine clinics (GUM) are set at 40% by year 2004 and 60% by 2007. We assessed the uptake of HIV test amongst GUM clinic attendees, more than six months after introducing an information leaflet in place of verbal pre-test counselling (PTC). The uptake rate was significantly higher than in a previous audit conducted in the same year, two weeks after introduction of the leaflets (62% vs 50%, P =0.001).

Offering the vaccine and accepting it: an audit of hepatitis B vaccination in West Midlands region.

The practice of hepatitis B screening and vaccination in genitourinary medicine clinics in the West Midlands Region is audited against the standards set by 1999 Medical Society for the Study of Venereal Disease National Guidelines.