Health provider perspectives on establishing service linkages for treatment and follow-up from an Australian, web-based STI testing service: a qualitative study.

Background Web-based, testing for sexually transmitted infections (STI) is becoming increasingly available. However, treatment pathways from web-based services are often not well-coordinated, contributing to treatment delays and access gaps. This study investigated clinician perspectives on building service linkages with a new, web-based, STI testing service in Victoria, Australia.

Rationale and Ethical Assessment of an Oropharyngeal Gonorrhoea Controlled Human Infection Model.

Infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the causative agent of gonorrhoea, causes significant morbidity worldwide and can have long-term impacts on reproductive health. The greatest global burden of gonorrhoea occurs in low- and middle-income settings. Global public health significance is increasing due to rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which threatens future gonorrhoea management.

Young people's preferences and motivations for STI partner notification: observational findings from the 2024 Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll survey.

Background Partner notification is an important step in the control of sexually transmissible infections (STIs). STIs remain at high rates among young people and can have serious reproductive consequences if left untreated. This study aimed to determine the preferences and motivations for partner notification among young people in Australia.

Impact of achieving WHO's 90-70-90 targets on cervical cancer elimination and potential benefits in preventing other HPV-related cancers in China: a modelling study.

Background: In the context of the World Health Organization's (WHO) 90-70-90 targets for accelerating cervical cancer elimination, we aimed to assess the impact of achieving these targets and altering intervention factors on cervical cancer elimination in China and their potential benefits from preventing other human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers.

Methods: We developed a sexual contact network-Markov model to simulate HPV transmission and the progression of HPV-related cancers (cervical, vaginal, vulvar, penile, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers). We projected the population impact of achieving 90-70-90 targets by 2030 on the overall HPV-related cancer burden in China during 2024-2100.

Research outputs after the Coursework Pathway.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to quantify research outputs after completing a Coursework Pathway (CP).

Methods: Emergency medicine trainees who completed a CP during 2012-2022 were included. Research outputs were identified using Medline, EMBASE, Pubmed and Google Scholar.

Preferences for online or in-person STI testing vary by where a person lives and their cultural background: a survey of young Australians.

Objectives: The objectives are to explore the acceptability of online sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing services among young Australians (16-29 years) and how this may vary between sociodemographic populations.

Methods: A cross-sectional, online survey (using both closed and open-ended questions) of Australians aged 16-29 years. Of 905 participants, 781 (86%) responded to the question on preference for online versus in-person STI testing and are included in this analysis.

Phenotyping people with a history of injecting drug use within electronic medical records using an interactive machine learning approach.

People with a history of injecting drug use are a priority for eliminating blood-borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections. Identifying them for disease surveillance in electronic medical records (EMRs) is challenged by sparsity of predictors. This study introduced a novel approach to phenotype people who have injected drugs using structured EMR data and interactive human-in-the-loop methods.

CAR-T cell therapy in Multiple Myeloma: current status and future challenges.

The treatment of multiple myeloma has changed dramatically in recent years, with huge strides forward made in the field. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy targeting the B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) is now widely approved in relapsed refractory patients and is moving into earlier treatment lines. In this review, we discuss the evidence underpinning current regulatory approvals and consider mechanisms through which CAR-T cell efficacy could be improved.

Duration of kissing in different intimate positions among men who have sex with men: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Despite mounting evidence showing that kissing (tongue-kissing) may transmit gonorrhoea between men who have sex with men (MSM), little data exists on factors influencing the duration of kissing while they are above and/or lying underneath a partner for this population group.

Methods: Between May 2019 and March 2020, we invited MSM aged ≥18 years who attended the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) to participate in a survey about the duration of their kissing (minutes) and intimate position while kissing (i.e.

Early medical abortion provision via telehealth in Victoria: A qualitative descriptive study.

Background And Objectives: Little is known about the views of service providers currently working in telehealth early medical abortion (EMA) provision in Victoria, Australia. This study aims to contextualise the enablers and barriers to telehealth EMA provision, providing insight for healthcare policy and practice to improve the accessibility of this service.

Method: This was a qualitative descriptive study involving semi-structured interviews with 14 Victorian stakeholders with expertise and knowledge on telehealth EMA provision.

Older patients want to talk about sexual health in Australian primary care.

Background Maintaining sexual health and function is important to many older adults. Although older patients are regular users of primary care, opportunities to address sexual health concerns are missed. Building on interview studies, this research aimed to collect a larger number of older adults' perspectives to deepen understanding of sexual healthcare needs and formulate recommendations for the Australian primary care context.

Development and acceptability of a digital tool for promoting syphilis testing in Australian general practice: qualitative study using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability.

Background In Australia, syphilis notifications increased 2.5-fold during 2013-2022 and 83 congenital syphilis cases were reported. Timely diagnosis and management are crucial.

Variation in immunoglobulin use and impact on survival in myeloma.

Serious infection is common in patients with multiple myeloma due to immune deficiency from the underlying disease and/or its treatment. Immunoglobulin replacement is one approach to reduce infection risk in these patients. However, few real-world data exist on its use in patients with myeloma.

Viability of Chlamydia trachomatis in different anatomical sites - a systematic review & meta-analysis.

Background: Modern assays for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) rely on nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) of DNA or ribosomal RNA. However, it is also known that both viable ("living") & non-viable ("dead") CT can be detected by NAAT. Multiple laboratory techniques to measure CT viability have emerged.

Patient-delivered partner therapy for chlamydia: health practitioner views on updated guidance in Victoria, Australia.

Background Patient-delivered partner therapy (PDPT) involves providing a prescription or medication to a patient diagnosed with chlamydia to pass to their sexual partner/s. Barriers to PDPT include uncertainty about its integration into clinical practice and permissibility. In Victoria, Australia, the Department of Health provides clinical guidance for PDPT (updated in 2022).

Publicly available Australian hospital data on infant feeding: A review and comparative analysis of outcomes.

Background: Breastfeeding is the optimal method of providing infant nutrition. The Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) is a global strategy to promote breastfeeding. This study aimed to explore infant feeding data in Australian hospitals and compare outcomes between BFHI and non-BFHI accredited hospitals, and between public and private hospitals.

Characterising HIV-1 transmission in Victoria, Australia: a molecular epidemiological study.

Background: In Australia the incidence of HIV has declined steadily, yet sustained reduction of HIV transmission in this setting requires improved public health responses. As enhanced public health responses and prioritisation of resources may be guided by molecular epidemiological data, here we aimed to assess the applicability of these approaches in Victoria, Australia.

Methods: A comprehensive collection of HIV-1 sequences from individuals diagnosed with HIV in Victoria, Australia, between January 1st 2000 and December 31st 2020 were deidentified and used as the basis of our assessment.

SOMANZ position statement for the investigation and management of sepsis in pregnancy 2023.

Background: The Society of Australia and New Zealand (SOMANZ) published its first sepsis in pregnancy and the postpartum period guideline in 2017 (Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol, 57, 2017, 540). In the intervening 6 years, maternal mortality from sepsis has remained static.

Aims: To update clinical practice with a review of the subsequent literature.

Practitioners support and intention to adopt universal access to self-collection in Australia's National Cervical Screening Program.

Objective: Primary care practitioners are crucial to engaging people in Australia's national cervical screening program. From July 2022, practitioners have been able to offer all screen-eligible people the choice to collect their own self-collected sample; an option introduced to increase equity. This study explored how practitioners are intending to incorporate universal access to self-collection into their clinical care.

Bacterial vaginosis after menopause: factors associated and women's experiences: a cross-sectional study of Australian postmenopausal women.

Background Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of vaginal discharge in reproductive age women; however, little is known about it after menopause. We aimed to learn more about BV in Australian postmenopausal women. Methods We conducted an online survey (July-September 2021).