Publications by authors named "H D L Birley"

Pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV (PrEP) has been shown to reduce transmission of HIV in a number of trials; however, there is limited evidence regarding the optimal way to deliver PrEP through pre-existing UK services, particularly through fully integrated drop-in sexual health service models. PrEP in the form of Truvada was launched in Wales in July 2017. We set up a PrEP service to be delivered via our drop-in integrated sexual reproductive health service.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Following the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation statement in November 2015 advising a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme targeting men who have sex with men (MSM) up to the age of 45 attending Genitourinary medicine and HIV services, we launched a HPV vaccination programme for MSM to be delivered through our Integrated Sexual Reproductive Health drop-in service across Newport and the South East Wales Valleys from 1 August 2016. Over the first 18 months of the vaccination programme 539 of the 693 (77%) eligible MSM who attended clinics where the vaccine was available commenced vaccination. The vaccination programme appears to have fitted in well with our pre-existing sexual health service delivery model and appears popular with MSM attending the service.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: After a trend of increasing incidence of gonorrhoea in the 1990s, by 2004 the incidence was declining in England, but continuing to increase in Wales. This prompted an investigation of the epidemiology of gonorrhoea in Wales to inform future prevention and control measures.

Methods: As an extension to Gonococcal Resistance to Antimicrobials Surveillance Programme, between May 2005 and September 2006, 540 consecutive gonococcal isolates were collected from three microbiology laboratories in South Wales.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

During the 1990s, cases of infectious syphilis were uncommon in Wales. In 2002, an outbreak occurred in a sexual network of men who have sex with men (MSM) attending a sauna. A multidisciplinary outbreak control team was convened to raise awareness of the outbreak among MSM and health professionals, assess the extent of outbreak, and initiate surveillance measures.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF