Four-Stage Audit Demonstrating Increased Uptake of HIV Testing in Acute Neurology Admissions Using Staged Practical Interventions.

Background: UK National Guidelines (UKNG) advise HIV testing in clinically indicated neurological presentations. We audited the impact of our practical strategies to increase uptake of HIV testing at a regional acute neurology admissions unit.

Methods: We audited HIV testing in 4 periods over 2 years: before we designed a UKNG-based "HIV testing in Neurology" protocol ("pre-protocol"); after dissemination of the protocol alone ("post-protocol"); post-protocol dissemination combined with both a tailored departmental admissions clerking proforma to prompt for HIV testing & consenting, and regular focussed tutorials to doctors on HIV testing in neurological patients ("post-proforma"); and finally one year after the post-proforma period ("+1 year").

An unusual cause of persistent postpartum vaginal discharge.

We describe the case of a 27-year-old woman with a three-month history of persistent green vaginal discharge following vaginal delivery of her first child. Group C β-haemolytic streptococcus was ultimately isolated, which appears to be an uncommon cause of this clinical presentation.

Managing sexually transmitted infections in pregnant women.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) constitute a major public health problem in the UK and may result in very costly complications. Many STIs pose the risk of a number of adverse pregnancy outcomes including miscarriage, still birth, preterm delivery, low birth weight and ophthalmia neonatorum. National guidelines for the management of STIs are produced and regularly revised by the British Association of Sexual Heath and HIV.