Sexual transmission of infections across Europe: appraising the present, scoping the future.

Our journal partnered with the Europe section of the International Union against STI (IUSTI) at a workshop held at the 18th European AIDS Conference in London on 30 October 2021. The workshop reviewed epidemiological trends and discussed STI care provision within HIV services across Europe. We started by highlighting trends in bacterial STIs reported to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control from countries in the European Union/European Economic Area.

Multiple drug allergy syndrome in pregnancy: Lessons for sexual health physicians.

Co-existence of multiple drug allergies and pregnancy often results in vexing dilemmas for physicians. A 21-year-old pregnant woman presented with asymptomatic cervicitis with dual infection with and during her third trimester. She reported a history of generalised rash with mucous membrane involvement following use of both macrolides and penicillins.

'It's all in the message': the utility of personalised short message service (SMS) texts to remind patients at higher risk of STIs and HIV to reattend for testing-a repeat before and after study.

Background: Patients at increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)/HIV acquisition are advised to reattend for retesting. A previous study showed that 'generic' text reminders did not improve reattendance.

Aim: To assess if a personalised text message with increased contact information would increase reattendance rates of at-risk patients.

The effect of electronic patient records on hepatitis B vaccination completion rates at a genitourinary medicine clinic.

The study was conducted to assess whether the introduction of an electronic patient records-based system affected hepatitis B vaccination completion rates and post-vaccination return rates, when compared to a paper-based system. Data were gathered for three groups of patients: those commencing vaccination (a) when paper records were in use (paper records group), (b) after electronic patient records were introduced (basic electronic patient records group) and (c) after electronic patient records were enhanced with recall (enhanced electronic patient records group). Compared to the paper records group, the third dose completion rates for patients managed using electronic patient records did not differ significantly: 74/119 (62.

The utility of short message service (SMS) texts to remind patients at higher risk of STIs and HIV to reattend for testing: a controlled before and after study.

Background: Patients attending for sexually transmitted infection (STI)/HIV testing may be at continuing risk of infection and advised to return for retesting at a later date.

Objectives: To measure the impact of short message service (SMS) text reminders on the reattendance rates of patients who require repeat STI testing.

Methods: Reattendance rates were measured for two groups of higher risk patients: those listed for routine SMS text reminders in 2012 and a control group of patients from 2011 with the same risk profile who had not received any active recall.

Using short message service text reminders to reduce 'did not attend' rates in sexual health and HIV appointment clinics.

'Did not attend' and cancellation rates were compared for two 12-month periods before (2009) and after (2012/2013) the introduction of routine short message service text reminders being sent to patients who have pre-booked appointments. After the introduction of short message service text appointment reminders, the overall 'did not attend' rates fell by 4% from 28% to 24% (p < 0.005) and by 10% from 28% to 18% (p < 0.

Pancreatic panniculitis secondary to acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas.

We report the case of a 68-year-old white woman who presented with painful, 1- to 4-cm, erythematous nodules located bilaterally on the anterior and medial shins that had progressively developed and worsened over the last month. Workup revealed pancreatic panniculitis (PP) secondary to acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas (ACCP). The unique clinicopathologic features, differential diagnosis, underlying causes, associated laboratory and clinical findings, pathophysiology, treatments, and appropriate workup for PP also are reviewed.

A prospective study of the effectiveness of electronic patient records in rapid-cycle assessment of treatment and partner notification outcomes for patients with genital chlamydia and gonorrhoea infection.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of electronic patient records (EPRs) in facilitating multiple, rapid measurements of treatment and partner notification (PN) outcomes for chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

Methods: In two sexual health clinics, the proportion of patients with chlamydia and gonorrhoea who had been treated within 4 weeks of diagnosis was measured, and also the proportion where at least one of their partners had been treated. These outcomes were measured monthly for 6 months, and changes in recording practice were instituted when necessary.

Atypical presentations of herpesvirus infections in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The characteristic presentation of herpesvirus infections is a vesicular rash. The initial lesions appear as erythematous papules that turn into grouped vesicles and pustules eventuating into crusts. In most cases, the features are so characteristic that a diagnosis can be made by history and physical examination without further diagnostic testing.