Infectious syphilis in women and heterosexual men in major Australian cities: sentinel surveillance data, 2011-2019.

OBJECTIVES: To examine changes in the positive infectious syphilis test rate among women and heterosexual men in major Australian cities, and rate differences by social, biomedical, and behavioural determinants of health. DESIGN, SETTING: Analysis of data extracted from de-identified patient records from 34 sexual health clinics participating in the Australian Collaboration for Coordinated Enhanced Sentinel Surveillance of Sexually Transmissible Infections and Blood Borne Viruses (ACCESS). PARTICIPANTS: First tests during calendar year for women and heterosexual men aged 15 years or more in major cities who attended ACCESS sexual health clinics during 2011-2019. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Positive infectious syphilis test rate; change in annual positive test rate. RESULTS: 180 of 52 221 tested women (0.34%) and 239 of 36 341 heterosexual men (0.66%) were diagnosed with infectious syphilis. The positive test rate for women was 1.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.9-3.2) per 1000 tests in 2011, 3.0 (95% CI, 2.0-4.2) per 1000 tests in 2019 (change per year: rate ratio [RR], 1.12; 95% CI, 1.01-1.25); for heterosexual men it was 6.1 (95% CI, 3.8-9.2) per 1000 tests in 2011 and 7.6 (95% CI, 5.6-10) per 1000 tests in 2019 (RR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.03-1.17). In multivariable analyses, the positive test rate was higher for women (adjusted RR [aRR], 1.85; 95% CI, 1.34-2.55) and heterosexual men (aRR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.53-3.74) in areas of greatest socio-economic disadvantage than for those in areas of least socio-economic disadvantage. It was also higher for Indigenous women (aRR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.22-4.70) and for women who reported recent injection drug use (aRR, 4.87; 95% CI, 2.18-10.9) than for other women; it was lower for bisexual than heterosexual women (aRR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.29-0.81) and for women who reported recent sex work (aRR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.29-0.44). The positive test rate was higher for heterosexual men aged 40-49 years (aRR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.42-3.12) or more than 50 years (aRR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.53-3.65) than for those aged 15-29 years. CONCLUSION: The positive test rate among both urban women and heterosexual men tested was higher in 2019 than in 2011. People who attend reproductive health or alcohol and drug services should be routinely screened for syphilis.

Renal impairment associated with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for antiretroviral therapy and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis: An observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is associated with adverse renal outcomes when prescribed for HIV infection. There are few data concerning real-world renal outcomes amongst patients prescribed TDF for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). METHODS AND FINDINGS: Data were extracted from 52 sexual health clinics across Australia from 2009-2019. All patients prescribed TDF-containing antiretroviral therapy and PrEP were included. Rates of renal impairment (a fall in eGFR to <60 ml/min/1·73m2) were calculated for people living with HIV (PLWHIV) prescribed TDF and HIV negative PrEP-users. Risk factors were assessed using Cox-proportional hazards models. Sensitivity analysis of risk using 1:1 propensity-score matching to adjust for potential imbalance in HIV and PrEP cohorts was conducted. 5,973 patients on PrEP and 1,973 PLWHIV were included. There were 39 (0.7%) instances of renal impairment in the PrEP group and 81 (4.1%) in the PLWHIV cohort (hazard ratio [HR]:0.35 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.22-0.56). Rates of renal impairment were 4.01/1000 person-years (95%CI:2.93-5.48) in the PrEP cohort and 16.18/1000 person-years (95%CI:13.01-20.11) in the PLWHIV cohort (p<0.001). Predictors of renal impairment were: older age (40-49 years (HR:5.09 95%CI: 2.12-12.17) and 50-82 years (HR:13.69 95%CI: 5.92-31.67) (compared with 30-39 years) and baseline eGFR<90ml/min (HR:61.19 95%CI: 19.27-194.30). After adjusting for age and baseline eGFR the rate of renal impairment remained lower in the PrEP cohort (aHR:0.62 95%CI: 0.40-0.94, p = 0.023). In propensity-matched analysis using 1,622 patients per cohort the risk of renal impairment remained higher in the PLWHIV cohort (log-rank p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients prescribed TDF-based PrEP had lower rates of renal impairment than patients prescribed TDF for HIV infection. In propensity analysis, after matching for some risk factors, rates of renal impairment remained higher amongst patients with HIV.

A HIV diagnosis and treatment cascade for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter Aboriginal) people are a priority population for HIV care in Australia; however, no HIV cascade exists for this population. We developed annual HIV cascades for 2010-2017 specific to Aboriginal peoples. By 2017, an estimated 595 Aboriginal people were living with HIV (PLWH); however, 14% remained undiagnosed. Cascade steps below global targets were: PLWH aware of their diagnosis (86%), and retention in care (81% of those who had received any care in previous two years in a sentinel network of clinics). For people retained in care, treatment outcomes surpassed global targets (92% receiving treatment, 93% viral suppression). Increases occurred across all HIV cascade steps over time; however, the least improvement was for retention in care, while the greatest improvement was achieving viral suppression. The HIV cascade for Aboriginal peoples highlights both gaps and strengths in the Australian HIV care system, and importantly highlights where potential interventions may be required to achieve the global UNAIDS targets.

Chlamydia home sampling in the real world: a cross-sectional analysis.

BACKGROUND: Retesting rates for chlamydia in Australia are low. Chlamydia home sampling has been shown to increase retesting rates. Sydney Sexual Health Centre introduced chlamydia home sampling in 2019. The aim of this study is to describe home sampling in a real world setting. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the total number of heterosexual males and non-sex-working females who tested positive for chlamydia at a urogenital site (1 November 2019 to 31 October 2020) were identified based on local diagnostic codes. Agreeing participants who were sent a home sampling SMS reminder at 2.5months were included for further analysis. Descriptive statistics and attrition rates of the home sampling were calculated using frequencies and percentages. Bivariate analyses of the main covariates by each stage, assessing crude associations, were performed using chi-squared tests. RESULTS: A total of 444 people attending Sydney Sexual Health Centre were eligible for the chlamydia home sampling option, 25.9% agreed to be sent the home sampling SMS invitation, of which 53 (46.1%) replied and were mailed a home sampling kit, with 43.4% returning the kit; of these 3 (13.0%) were positive for chlamydia. The majority (91.3%) of tests were performed within 6months of original diagnosis. Of those who initially agreed but then did not undertake home sampling, 22.6% subsequently tested in clinic at Sydney Sexual Health Centre. There were no associations between any of the variables measured and undertaking home sampling. CONCLUSIONS: Home sampling process for chlamydia reinfection screening in heterosexual men and non-sex-working women had much lower uptake than seen in a previous trial with high attrition rates at each stage.

Genital warts trends in Australian and overseas-born people in Australia: A cross-sectional trend analysis to measure progress towards control and elimination.

Background: Substantial declines in genital warts have been observed in countries with quadrivalent/nonavalent human papillomavirus (q/n HPV) vaccination programmes, with Australia showing the most pronounced and long-term reductions. No study has assessed progress towards elimination of genital warts in a nation-wide sample of patients, and migrants' contribution to population-level control of genital warts. We assessed Australia's progress towards genital warts elimination by examining trends in diagnoses in Australian- and overseas-born patients of sexual health clinics (SHCs) across Australia. Methods: A cross-sectional trend analysis of new genital warts diagnoses among first-time patients of 34 SHCs, between 2004 and 2018, was performed. Rate ratios (RR) were calculated using Poisson regression models, for comparing trends in proportions of new genital warts diagnoses in Australian- and overseas-born patients during the pre-vaccination era (2004-2007) and the vaccination era (2008-2018), and by 2018 relative to 2004-2007. Findings: A total of 439,957 new patients (Australian-born: 230,230; overseas-born: 209,727) were seen at SHCs, 6•4% were diagnosed with genital warts (Australian-born: 7•1%; overseas-born: 5•6%). By 2018, there had been a 64% reduction in the proportion of all SHC patients with a genital warts diagnosis relative to 2004-2007 (RR: 0•36, 95% CI: 0•35-0•38). The decline was more pronounced at 72% (RR: 0•28, 95% CI: 0 •27-0•30) among Australian-born patients, with the greatest reduction in women and men aged <21 years, at 98% (RR: 0•02, 95% CI: 0•01-0•03) and 92% (RR: 0•08, 95% CI: 0•06-0•11), respectively. By 2018, there was a 49% reduction in the proportion of overseas-born patients diagnosed with genital warts (RR: 0•51, 95% CI:0•48-0•54), and a 21% reduction in overseas-born patients from countries with no or bivalent HPV (bHPV) vaccination programme (RR: 0•79, 95% CI: 0•71-0•90). Interpretation: The substantial reductions in Australian-born people is a testament to the efficacy of quadrivalent (qHPV) and nonavalent (nHPV) vaccines and the high and wide-spread vaccination coverage in Australia. However, population-wide elimination of genital warts in Australia is dependent on other countries initiating or expanding their own HPV vaccination programmes. Funding: The Australian Government Department of Health and Seqirus Australia.

Effect on genital warts in Australian female and heterosexual male individuals after introduction of the national human papillomavirus gender-neutral vaccination programme: an analysis of national sentinel surveillance data from 2004-18.

BACKGROUND: In Australia, the government-funded human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme was introduced in April, 2007, for girls and young women, and in February, 2013, for boys. As of Dec 31, 2018, all Australian-born female individuals younger than 38 years and male individuals younger than 21 years have been eligible for the free quadrivalent or nonavalent HPV vaccine. We aimed to examine the trends in genital wart diagnoses among Australian-born female and heterosexual male individuals who attended sexual health clinics throughout Australia before and after the introduction of the gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme in February, 2013. METHODS: We did a serial cross-sectional analysis of genital wart diagnoses among Australian-born female and heterosexual male individuals attending a national surveillance network of 35 clinics between Jan 1, 2004, and Dec 31, 2018. We calculated prevalence ratios of genital warts, using log-binomial regression models, for the female-only vaccination period (July 1, 2007, to Feb 28, 2013), gender-neutral vaccination period (March 1, 2013, to Dec 31, 2018), and the whole vaccination period (July 1, 2007, to Dec 31, 2018) compared with the pre-vaccination period (Jan 1, 2004, to June 30, 2007). FINDINGS: We included 121 038 men and 116 341 women in the analysis. Overall, we observed a 58% reduction (prevalence ratio 0·42, 95% CI 0·40-0·44) in genital wart diagnoses in female individuals and a 45% reduction (0·55, 0·53-0·57) in genital wart diagnoses in heterosexual male individuals after the introduction of the vaccination programme in 2007. The largest reduction in genital warts was observed in younger individuals, and there was a decreasing magnitude of reduction with increasing age (80%, 72%, 61%, 41%, and 16% reductions in female individuals aged 15-20 years, 21-25 years, 26-30 years, 31-35 years, and ≥36 years, respectively; 70%, 61%, 49%, 37%, and 29% reductions in male individuals aged 15-20 years, 21-25 years, 26-30 years, 31-35 years, and ≥36 years, respectively). Significant reductions observed in female individuals (0·32, 0·28-0·36) and male individuals (0·51, 0·43-0·61) aged 15-20 years in the female-only vaccination period were followed by a more substantial reduction in female individuals (0·07, 0·06-0·09) and male individuals (0·11, 0·08-0·15) aged 15-20 years in the gender-neutral vaccination period. INTERPRETATION: The national gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme has led to substantial and ongoing reduction in genital warts among Australian female and heterosexual male individuals, with a marked reduction in young individuals who received the vaccine at school. FUNDING: Seqirus Australia and the Australian Government Department of Health.

Long-term protection from HIV infection with oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis in gay and bisexual men: findings from the expanded and extended EPIC-NSW prospective implementation study.

BACKGROUND: Daily pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective in preventing HIV, but few long-term data are available on effectiveness and adherence in real-world settings. Here, we report trends in HIV incidence over 3 years in individuals at high risk who were prescribed PrEP in New South Wales (NSW), as well as adherence before the transition to subsidised PrEP. METHODS: Expanded PrEP Implementation in Communities-New South Wales (EPIC-NSW) was a pragmatic, prospective, single-arm, implementation study of daily, oral PrEP in 31 sites (sexual health clinics, general practices, and a hospital) in NSW, Australia. Eligible participants were HIV-negative adults (aged ≥18 years) who were at high risk of HIV infection as defined in local PrEP guidelines. Participants were prescribed coformulated (once-daily, oral tablet) tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (300 mg) and emtricitabine (200 mg) as HIV PrEP and were followed up with HIV testing, sexually transmitted infection testing, and PrEP dispensing. Originally planned for 3700 participants followed for 1 year, the study was expanded so that all eligible participants in the state could obtain PrEP and extended until publicly subsidised PrEP became available in Australia. The primary outcome was new HIV infection among all participants who were dispensed PrEP at least once and had at least one follow-up HIV test result. Adherence was estimated by medication possession ratio (MPR), defined as the proportion of PrEP pills dispensed in 90 days, assuming daily dosing. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02870790. FINDINGS: Between March 1, 2016, and April 30, 2018, we enrolled 9709 participants. 9596 participants were dispensed PrEP, of whom 9448 (98·3%) were gay or bisexual men. Participants were followed up until March 31, 2019, with at least one follow-up HIV test available in 9520 (99·2%) participants. Mean MPR declined from 0·93 to 0·64 from the first to the ninth quarter. There were 30 HIV seroconversions over 18 628 person-years, an incidence of 1·61 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 1·13-2·30). Being younger, living in a postcode with fewer gay men, reporting more risk behaviours at baseline, and having an MPR of less than 0·6 were each univariately associated with increased HIV incidence. In the final year of follow-up, when PrEP was mostly purchased rather than provided free by the study, HIV incidence remained low at 2·24 per 1000 person-years (1·46-3·44). INTERPRETATION: HIV incidence remained low over up to 3 years of follow-up, including during a transition from study-provided to publicly subsidised PrEP. In a setting of affordable PrEP and associated health-care services, very low HIV incidence of 1 to 2 per 1000 person-years can be maintained in gay and bisexual men who were previously at high risk. FUNDING: New South Wales Ministry of Health, Australian Capital Territory Health Directorate, Gilead Sciences.

Renal impairment in a large-scale HIV preexposure prophylaxis implementation cohort.

BACKGROUND: HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with fixed-dose tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricitabine has been associated with low rates of renal impairment in clinical trials. Large-scale PrEP implementation may result in higher rates, as the prevalence of associated risk factors may be higher than in trial populations. METHODS: A posthoc analysis of EPIC-NSW, a large Australian multicentre PrEP implementation trial for patients at high risk of HIV infection. Participants were eligible for inclusion if they commenced PrEP between 1 March 2016 and 30 April 2018, and had renal function assessed at baseline and at least once more before the censor date. The primary outcome was new-onset renal impairment, defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 ml/min per 1.73 m2. RESULTS: A total of 6808 participants were eligible for inclusion. Almost all were male (99%), with a median age of 35 years [interquartile range (IQR): 28-44]. Approximately one-quarter (26%) had a baseline eGFR <90 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Over a median follow-up period of 1.2 years (IQR: 0.6-1.7), the rate of renal impairment was 5.8 episodes per 1000 person-years [95% confidence interval (CI): 4.0-7.8]. In multivariable Cox regression, there was a higher risk of renal impairment in participants aged ≥50 years [hazard ratio (HR) 14.7, 95% CI: 5.0-43.3, P < 0.001] and those with an eGFR <90 ml/min per 1.73 m2 (HR 28.9, 95% CI: 6.9-121.9) at baseline. CONCLUSION: In a large-scale implementation study, TDF-containing PrEP was associated with a low risk of renal impairment overall, whereas older patients and those with preexisting renal dysfunction were at substantially increased risk.

Comparison of Trends in Rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections Before vs After Initiation of HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men.

Importance: There have been concerns that HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) may be associated with increases in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) because of subsequent reductions in condom use and/or increases in sexual partners. Objective: To determine trends in STI test positivity among high-risk men who have sex with men (MSM) before and after the start of HIV PrEP. Design, Setting, and Participants: A before-after analysis was conducted using a subcohort of a single-group PrEP implementation study cohort in New South Wales, Australia (Expanded PreEP Implementation in Communities in New South Wales [EPIC-NSW]), from up to 1 year before enrollment if after January 1, 2015, and up to 2 years after enrollment and before December 31, 2018. STI testing data were extracted from a network of 54 sexual health clinics and 6 primary health care clinics Australia-wide, using software to deidentify, encrypt, and anonymously link participants between clinics. A cohort of MSM dispensed PrEP for the first time during the study, with 2 or more STI tests in the prior year and who tested during follow-up, were included from the EPIC-NSW cohort of HIV-negative participants with high-risk sexual behavior. Data analysis was performed from June to December 2019. Exposures: Participants were dispensed coformulated tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (300 mg) and emtricitabine (200 mg) as HIV PrEP. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was STI, measured using test positivity, defined as the proportion of participants testing positive for an STI at least once per quarter of follow-up. Outcomes were calculated for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoea by site of infection (anorectal, pharyngeal, urethral, or any) and for syphilis. Results: Of the EPIC-NSW cohort of 9709 MSM, 2404 were included in the before-after analysis. The mean (SD) age of the participants was 36 (10.4) years, and 1192 (50%) were Australia-born. STI positivity was 52% in the year after PrEP (23.3% per quarter; 95% CI, 22.5%-24.2% per quarter) with no significant trend (mean rate ratio [RR] increase of 1.01 per quarter [95% CI, 0.99-1.02]; P = .29), compared with 50% positivity in the year prior to PrEP (20.0% per quarter [95% CI, 19.04%-20.95% per quarter]; RR for overall STI positivity, 1.17 [95% CI, 1.10-1.24]; P < .001), with an increase in quarterly STI positivity (mean RR of 1.08 per quarter, or an 8% increase per quarter [95% CI, 1.05-1.11]; P < .001; RR, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.90-0.96]; P < .001). Findings were similar when stratified by specific STIs and anatomical site. Conclusions and Relevance: STI rates were high but stable among high-risk MSM while taking PrEP, compared with a high but increasing trend in STI positivity before commencing PrEP. These findings suggest the importance of considering trends in STIs when describing how PrEP use may be associated with STI incidence.

Gaps in the HIV diagnosis and care cascade for migrants in Australia, 2013-2017: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Globally, few studies compare progress toward the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Fast-Track targets among migrant populations. Fast-Track targets are aligned to the HIV diagnosis and care cascade and entail achieving 90-90-90 (90% of people living with HIV [PLHIV] diagnosed, 90% of those diagnosed on treatment, and 90% of those on treatment with viral suppression [VS]) by 2020 and 95-95-95 by 2030. We compared cascades between migrant and nonmigrant populations in Australia. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We conducted a serial cross-sectional survey for HIV diagnosis and care cascades using modelling estimates for proportions diagnosed combined with a clinical database for proportions on treatment and VS between 2013-2017. We estimated the number of PLHIV and number diagnosed using New South Wales (NSW) and Victorian (VIC) data from the Australian National HIV Registry. Cascades were stratified by migration status, sex, HIV exposure, and eligibility for subsidised healthcare in Australia (reciprocal healthcare agreement [RHCA]). We found that in 2017, 17,760 PLHIV were estimated in NSW and VIC, and 90% of them were males. In total, 90% of estimated PLHIV were diagnosed. Of the 9,391 who were diagnosed and retained in care, most (85%; n = 8,015) were males. We excluded 38% of PLHIV with missing data for country of birth, and 41% (n = 2,408) of eligible retained PLHIV were migrants. Most migrants were from Southeast Asia (SEA; 28%), northern Europe (12%), and eastern Asia (11%). Most of the migrants and nonmigrants were males (72% and 83%, respectively). We found that among those retained in care, 90% were on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95% of those on ART had VS (i.e., 90-90-95). Migrants had larger gaps in their HIV diagnosis and care cascade (85-85-93) compared with nonmigrants (94-90-96). Similarly, there were larger gaps among migrants reporting male-to-male HIV exposure (84-83-93) compared with nonmigrants reporting male-to-male HIV exposure (96-92-96). Large gaps were also found among migrants from SEA (72-87-93) and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA; 89-93-91). Migrants from countries ineligible for RHCA had lower cascade estimates (83-85-92) than RHCA-eligible migrants (96-86-95). Trends in the HIV diagnosis and care cascades improved over time (2013 and 2017). However, there was no significant increase in ART coverage among migrant females (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 1.03; 95% CI 0.99-1.08; p = 0.154), nonmigrant females (IRR: 1.01; 95% CI 0.95-1.07; p = 0.71), and migrants from SEA (IRR: 1.03; 95% CI 0.99-1.07; p = 0.06) and SSA (IRR: 1.03; 95% CI 0.99-1.08; p = 0.11). Additionally, there was no significant increase in VS among migrants reporting male-to-male HIV exposure (IRR: 1.02; 95% CI 0.99-1.04; p = 0.08). The major limitation of our study was a high proportion of individuals missing data for country of birth, thereby limiting migrant status categorisation. Additionally, we used a cross-sectional instead of a longitudinal study design to develop the cascades and used the number retained as opposed to using all individuals diagnosed to calculate the proportions on ART. CONCLUSIONS: HIV diagnosis and care cascades improved overall between 2013 and 2017 in NSW and VIC. Cascades for migrants had larger gaps compared with nonmigrants, particularly among key migrant populations. Tracking subpopulation cascades enables gaps to be identified and addressed early to facilitate achievement of Fast-Track targets.

Provider attitudes to the empiric treatment of asymptomatic contacts of gonorrhoea.

Background In the current era of antimicrobial stewardship, the availability of highly sensitive assays and faster turnaround times, the practice of empiric treatment of asymptomatic contacts of gonorrhoea needs review. The views of clinicians in a range of settings across Australia and clinic costs associated with a change of practice was examined. METHODS: An online anonymous survey for nurses and doctors working in public sexual health clinics and general practices in urban, regional and rural Australia was developed. Information on the relative importance of a range of factors influencing delivery of empiric treatment was collected. Participants were asked whether current guidelines should change. RESULTS: Surveys were distributed to 468 healthcare providers and 188 (40.2%) fully completed the survey. Most of the participants worked in public practice (84.9%) and 86 (43.2%) were doctors. Factors influencing provision of empiric treatment were: if the patient was unable to return (95.9%) or may not return (95.3%); risk of transmission to others (93.3%); likelihood of infection (88.6%); and patient request (82.9%). Respondents were evenly split as to whether current guidelines should change, with providers in private practice being less likely to support guideline change (P = 0.03). The model of empiric treatment of all asymptomatic sexual contacts was 34% more expensive than a model of testing and treatment of those with a positive result. CONCLUSION: Currently, the majority of clinicians provide empiric treatment for asymptomatic contacts in Australia. There was significant support for a change in guidelines with specific scenarios requiring individualised responses.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae positivity in clients presenting as asymptomatic contacts of gonorrhoea at a sexual health centre.

Background Previous guidelines at the Sydney Sexual Health Centre (SSHC) recommended empirical antibiotic treatment for asymptomatic contacts of Neisseria gonorrhoeae at the time of testing. With increasing concerns around gonorrhoea antibiotic resistance, it has been suggested that asymptomatic contacts should only be treated based on test results. METHODS: This retrospective study of data from the SSHC electronic medical record included a total of 295 gonorrhoea contacts from 1 January 2018 to 30 June 2018. The primary outcome was the proportion of asymptomatic gonorrhoea contacts with a positive gonorrhoea result from any anatomical site. Statistically significant differences in gonorrhoea positivity according to gender, sexual preference, use of PrEP, sex worker status, country of birth, preferred language and number of partners, were calculated using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The overall proportion of asymptomatic gonorrhoea contacts with a positive gonorrhoea result was 27.1% (95% CI: 22.1-32.6%). The proportion of gonorrhoea positivity was significantly higher in females compared to males (52.0% vs 25.7%, P < 0.01), gay and bisexual men compared to heterosexual men (28.7% vs 0%, P < 0.01) and non-users of PrEP compared to PrEP users (31.2% vs 12.5%, P < 0.05). No statistically significant differences in gonorrhoea positivity were found in subgroups divided by sex worker status, country of birth, preferred language and number of partners. CONCLUSION: The relatively low gonorrhoea positivity rate (27.1%) in asymptomatic gonorrhoea contacts at the SSHC between January and June 2018 supports guideline changes to no longer provide empirical antibiotic treatment to asymptomatic contacts.

Empirical treatment of asymptomatic contacts of gonorrhoea: patient views.

Background The prevalence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonorrhoea) in sexual contacts of gonorrhoea has not been established, but limited data suggest that the majority of contacts are not infected. Contacts of gonorrhoea who receive empirical treatment at the point of testing may receive unnecessary antimicrobial treatment for an infection that is known to have multidrug resistance. This study evaluated patient acceptability of non-empirical treatment.? METHODS: We conducted an anonymous cross-sectional survey of patients attending sexual health centres in New South Wales, Australia, on the acceptability of empirical and non-empirical treatment models and patients' concerns about antimicrobial resistance. RESULTS: Most of the 823 survey participants were willing to wait for treatment until their results were reported; 77% and 53% would agree to wait for treatment if results were available in 2 and 7 days respectively. Participants were less likely to agree to non-empirical treatment if they lived in regional and remote areas compared with those in a major city (odds ratio (OR) 0.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.35-0.73). Most participants (70%) were worried about infections becoming resistant to antibiotics, with heterosexual men and women being less likely than gay and bisexual men to be worried (heterosexual men: OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.44-0.94; women: OR 0.64 95%, CI 0.44-0.92). CONCLUSIONS: Non-empirical treatment was acceptable to most participants, but patient preference, ability to return for treatment and timeliness of results are factors that should inform individual treatment decisions.

Cold burn injuries in the UK: the 11-year experience of a tertiary burns centre.

BACKGROUND: Guidance for the management of thermal injuries has evolved with improved understanding of burn pathophysiology. Guidance for the management of cold burn injuries is not widely available. The management of these burns differs from the standard management of thermal injuries. This study aimed to review the etiology and management of all cold burns presenting to a large regional burn centre in the UK and to provide a simplified management pathway for cold burns. METHODS: An 11-year retrospective  analysis (1 January 2003-31 December 2014)  of all cold injuries presenting to a regional burns centre in the UK was conducted. Patient case notes were reviewed for injury mechanism, first aid administered, treatment outcomes and time to healing. An anonymized nationwide survey on aspects of management of cold burns was disseminated between 13 July 2015-5 October 2015 to British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) and Plastic Surgery Trainees Association (PLASTA) members in the UK. Electronic searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library were performed to identify relevant literature to provide evidence for a management pathway for cold burn injuries. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients were identified. Age range was 8 months-69 years. Total body surface area (TBSA) burn ranged from 0.25 to 5 %. Twenty cases involved peripheral limbs. Seventeen (73.9 %)cases were accidental, with the remaining six (26.1 %) cases being deliberate self-inflicted injuries. Only eight patients received first aid. All except one patient were managed conservatively. One case required skin graft application due to delayed healing. We received 52 responses from a total of 200 questionaires. Ninety percent of responders think clearer guidelines should exist. We present a simplified management pathway based on evidence identified in our literature search. CONCLUSIONS: Cold burns are uncommon in comparison to other types of burn injuries. In the UK, a disproportionate number of cold burn injuries are deliberately self-inflicted, especially in the younger patient population. Our findings reflect a gap in clinical knowledge and experience. We proposed a simplified management pathway for managing cold burn injuries, consisting of adequate first aid using warm water, oral prostaglandin inhibitors, deroofing of blisters and topical antithromboxane therapy.

Modern use of smartphone applications in the perioperative management in microsurgical breast reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Advances in mobile telecommunication, improved mobile internet and affordability have led to a significant increase in smartphone use within medicine. The capability of instant messaging, photography, videography, word processing, drawing and internet access allow significant potential in this small portable device. Smartphone use within medicine has grown tremendously worldwide given its affordability, improved internet and capabilities. METHODS: We have searched for apps specifically helpful in the perioperative care of microsurgical breast reconstructive patients. RESULTS: The useful apps have been subdivided: (I) communication apps-multimedia messaging, WhatsApp, PicSafeMedi: allow efficient communication via text, picture and video messages leading to earlier assessment and definitive management of free flaps; (II) storage apps-Notability, Elogbook: electronic storage of patient notes and logbooks of case which can be shared with others if required; (III) educational apps-FlapApp, Touch Surgery, PubMed on tap: step by step guides to surgical procedures to aid learning and medical journal database; (IV) flap monitoring app-SilpaRamanitor: free flap monitoring app based on photographic analysis for earlier detection of compromised flaps. CONCLUSIONS: There has been remarkable growth in smartphones use among surgeons. Apps are being developed for every conceivable use. The future will be in wearable smart devices that allow continuous monitoring with the potential to instigate change should deviations from the norm occur. The smart watch is the start of this digital revolution.