[Sexually transmitted infections: a new hub&spoke model to control the increasing trend of STIs in Italy and prevent their spread].

The project "Experimentation of new integrated hospital-territory organizational models for the prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections: facilitated diagnostic-care pathways and offer of free targeted screening" was developed as part of the CCM 2019 programme, funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, being coordinated by the Italian National Health Institute (ISS), in collaboration with Sapienza University of Rome. Three clinical units located in Turin, Milan, and Cagliari, specialized in sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnosis and treatment, and three highly specialized microbiology laboratories located in Trieste, Florence, and Palermo were involved.The objectives were to develop an innovative network model for the treatment of STIs based on multidisciplinary centres with high quality of care for STIs (hub-IST) and territorial structures (spoke-IST), to plan and test integrated facilitated care pathways for STIs, to evaluate the priorities, feasibility, and sustainability of prevention interventions.

Study protocol for a pre/post study on knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding STIs and in particular HPV among Italian adolescents, teachers, and parents in secondary schools.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are one of the most important issues related to sexual and reproductive health, as it is estimated that more than 1 million new infections are acquired every day worldwide and data on the prevalence and incidence of these infections, especially among young people, are increasing. Nevertheless, there are some knowledge and behavioral gaps, and young people need more support from their school and family network to protect themselves and their peers. Therefore, we have designed a multicenter prospective intervention study involving public lower and upper secondary school students, their parents and teachers (ESPRIT).

Sexually Transmitted Infections in Italian Young and Adult People: A Worrying Positive Trend Hidden by COVID-19 Epidemic.

Recent European data show an increase in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), particularly , among young heterosexuals, surpassing pre-pandemic numbers. Italy's varied local health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic likely affected STI management and reporting. To evaluate COVID-19's impact on STI spread in Italy, we analyzed microbiological data from before and during the pandemic in an area with minimal restrictions on clinical services.

Introducing comprehensive sexuality education in Italian schools: from the co-construction to the evaluation of a pilot intervention.

Introduction: School-based comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is a powerful tool that provides young people with information on all aspects of sexuality and is aimed at protecting their sexual and reproductive health and well-being throughout their lives. Currently, CSE is not integrated within the schools' curriculum in Italy. This study describes the co-construction, implementation, and evaluation of a CSE project piloted among students attending lower secondary schools, in four regions of Italy.

Sharp increase in gonorrhoea notifications among young people, EU/EEA, July 2022 to June 2023.

Gonorrhoea cases increased steeply in women aged 20 to 24 years across 15 EU/EEA countries in July to December 2022 and January to June 2023 with, respectively, 73% and 89% more cases reported than expected, based on historical data from 2015 to 2019. Smaller increases among men due to heterosexual transmission were observed in nine EU/EEA countries. Interventions to raise awareness among young people about sexually transmitted infection risks are needed, emphasising the benefit of safe sexual practices and testing.

Knowledge and behaviours associated with HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections in blood donors in Italy.

Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent a group of widespread infectious diseases. The objective of this study is to investigate the knowledge on HIV and STIs as well as sexual risk behaviours among blood donors in Italy.

Materials And Methods: The study was carried out in 2017 among blood donors who accessed social media of the Italian Association of Blood Donors (Associazione Volontari Italiani del Sangue, AVIS), and answered to a questionnaire posted online.

Impact of COVID-19 epidemic on temporal pattern of new HIV diagnoses in Italy, 2021 database.

Background: New HIV diagnoses in Italy decreased drastically in 2020 due to COVID-19 related effects: 50% fewer diagnoses were reported by the National HIV Surveillance System. COVID-19 pandemic impact on HIV surveillance is unclear. We estimated the expected number of new HIV diagnoses in 2020 in order to isolate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Increased kidney disease mortality among people with AIDS versus the general population: a population-based cohort study in Italy, 2006-2018.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess whether an excess mortality related to kidney and other urinary tract diseases exists among Italian people with AIDS (PWA), as compared with the general population without AIDS (non-PWA).

Design: Population-based, retrospective cohort study.

Setting And Participants: We conducted a nationwide study including 9481 Italian PWA, aged 15-74 years, reported to the National AIDS Registry between 2006 and 2018.

Hepatitis of unknown aetiology in children - epidemiological overview of cases reported in Europe, 1 January to 16 June 2022.

Following the report of an excess in paediatric cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology by the United Kingdom (UK) on 5 April 2022, 427 cases were reported from 20 countries in the World Health Organization European Region to the European Surveillance System TESSy from 1 January 2022 to 16 June 2022. Here, we analysed demographic, epidemiological, clinical and microbiological data available in TESSy. Of the reported cases, 77.

Mortality of people with AIDS in Italy: comparison of AIDS surveillance and multiple cause-of-death registries.

Aims: To assess whether the use of multiple cause-of-death data could improve reporting of AIDS mortality in Italy.

Method: Population-based, record-linkage study, on 3,975,431 deaths recorded in the National Registry of Causes of Death (RCoD) and 4,530 deaths recorded in the National AIDS Registry (RAIDS), during 2006-2012.

Results: The record-linkage identified 3,646 AIDS-related deaths present in both registries, 884 deaths in the RAIDS without mention of HIV/AIDS in the RCoD, and 3,796 deaths in the RCoD with mention of HIV/AIDS that were not present in the RAIDS.

[The professional skills of the nurse involved in the care of individuals with sexually transmitted infections].

Introduction: Accurate pain assessment and management in critically ill patients withcognitive alterations who are unable to communicate constitute a major challenge for themedical and nursing staff of Intensive Care Units (ICUs). This study want assess the impact of Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (CCPOT) scale in ICU practice and evaluate the effects on pain assessment and management in brain-injured critically ill adult patients.

Methods: This before-and-after study was carried out in an Italian ICU, where data were collected before (T0) and after (T1) implementation of the CCPOT in brain-injured critically ill adults.

Post-migration acquisition of HIV: Estimates from four European countries, 2007 to 2016.

BackgroundThe assumption that migrants acquire human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) before migration, particularly those from high prevalence areas, is common.AimWe assessed the place of HIV acquisition of migrants diagnosed in four European countries using surveillance data.MethodsUsing CD4+ T-cell count trajectories modelled to account for seroconversion bias, we estimated infection year of newly HIV-diagnosed migrants residing in the United Kingdom (UK), Belgium, Sweden and Italy with a known arrival year and CD4+ T-cell count at diagnosis.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Continuum of Care in 11 European Union Countries at the End of 2016 Overall and by Key Population: Have We Made Progress?

Background: High uptake of antiretroviral treatment (ART) is essential to reduce human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission and related mortality; however, gaps in care exist. We aimed to construct the continuum of HIV care (CoC) in 2016 in 11 European Union (EU) countries, overall and by key population and sex. To estimate progress toward the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 target, we compared 2016 to 2013 estimates for the same countries, representing 73% of the population in the region.

Demographic and socio-economic determinants of poor HIV-risk perception at first HIV diagnosis: analysis of the HIV Surveillance data, Italy 2010-2016.

Introduction: HIV infections in Italy has not undergone a substantial decline over recent years. For this reason, we analysed risk-factors and socio-economic indicators of HIV-risk perception in HIV surveillance data.

Methods: An observational study was conducted and HIV-risk perception was estimated on the basis of reasons for undergoing testing.

Excess liver-related mortality among people with AIDS compared to the general population: an Italian nationwide cohort study using multiple causes of death.

Objectives: Liver diseases have become a leading cause of death among people with AIDS (PWA). This study aimed to investigate whether PWA experienced excess mortality related to liver diseases as compared to the general population (non-PWA), using a multiple cause of death (MCoD; i.e.

Estimated burden of Chlamydia trachomatis female infection and consequent severe pelvic inflammatory disease, Italy, 2005-2016.

Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is the leading sexually transmitted infection (STI) across Europe. In Italy, Ct prevalence is low in general population, but predominance of asymptomatic infections, passive voluntary reporting, variable diagnostic criteria and coding practices can lead to considerable underestimation, preventing assessment of real burden of disease and health intervention. We analysed data on female genital Ct infection registered in STI sentinel surveillance systems in Italy from 2005 through 2016 and found 3305 women.

Emerging role for Ureaplasma parvum serovar 3: Active infection in women with silent high-risk human papillomavirus and in women with idiopathic infertility.

Recently, there are controversial opinions on the presence of Mycoplasmas/Ureaplasmas as colonizers or pathogens, and on the use of a targeted therapy. This study aimed to characterize Mycoplasmas/Ureaplasmas infections in reproductive age women, including the acquisition of sexually transmitted (ST) pathogens and poor birth outcomes. A total of 646 healthy Italian women fulfilled the inclusion criteria including 521 infertile women, 65 pregnant women, and 60 fertile women with identified risk factors and symptomatic for vaginitis/cervicitis.

Allergy screening in a schoolchildren-based population.

Background: Schoolchildren screening for allergic diseases may improve early identification and management of atopic children. The aim of this study was to perform a schoolchildren screening program for identification of children with allergic diseases.

Methods: All parents of children attending to 13 primary schools in the city of Rome were requested to fill in a demographic data form and the ChAt questionnaire.

Quantifying unmet prevention needs among MSM in Europe through a multi-site bio-behavioural survey.

IntroductionThe HIV epidemic represents an important public health issue in Europe particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). Global AIDS Monitoring indicators (GAM) have been widely and jointly promoted as a set of crucial standardised items to be adopted for monitoring and responding to the epidemic.MethodsThe Sialon II study, implemented in 13 European cities (2013-14), was a complex multi-centre integrated bio-behavioural cross-sectional survey targeted at MSM, with a concomitant collection of behavioural and biological (oral fluid or blood specimens) data.

Are European HIV cohort data within EuroCoord representative of the diagnosed HIV population?

Objective: HIV cohorts are an important source of clinical data for informing public health policies and programmes. However, the generalizability of cohort findings to the wider population of people diagnosed with HIV in each country remains unclear. In this work, we assessed the representativeness of six large national HIV cohorts within Europe.

Excess mortality related to circulatory system diseases and diabetes mellitus among Italian AIDS patients vs. non-AIDS population: a population-based cohort study using the multiple causes-of-death approach.

Background: Chronic diseases, chiefly cancers and circulatory system diseases (CSDs), have become the leading non-AIDS-related causes of death among HIV-infected people, as in the general population. After our previous report of an excess mortality for several non-AIDS-defining cancers, we now aim to assess whether people with AIDS (PWA) experience also an increased mortality for CSDs and diabetes mellitus (DM), as compared to the non-AIDS general population (non-PWA).

Methods: A nationwide, population-based, retrospective cohort study was conducted including 5285 Italians, aged 15-74 years, who were diagnosed with AIDS between 2006 and 2011.

[Regional HIV Surveillance in Italy: a starting point for the future national system].

Background: the Italian National HIV Surveillance, instituted by the Ministerial Decree of March 31st, 2008, is based on 21 regional surveillance systems and adopts an essential data collection form with a definite data flow. The unification of HIV and AIDS surveillance systems and the implementation of an identical data collection form are priorities of the Italian National HIV/AIDS Action Plan 2017 (PNAIDS).

Objectives: to describe the 21 regional HIV surveillance systems and to verify the feasibility of their unification.

People living with undiagnosed HIV infection and a low CD4 count: estimates from surveillance data, Italy, 2012 to 2014.

Background and aimsLate HIV diagnosis is associated with onward HIV transmission, higher morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. In Italy, more than half of people living with HIV were diagnosed late during the last decade, with a CD4 count < 350 cells/mm3 at diagnosis. We aimed to determine the number and characteristics of people living with undiagnosed HIV infection and low CD4 counts in Italy.

People diagnosed with HIV and in care in Italy in 2014: results from the second national survey.

We conducted a second National survey in all Italian Infectious Disease clinics to assess the number of people diagnosed and linked to care and, among these, the number of people on antiretroviral therapy and viral load suppressed. In 2014, 100,049 (0.16 per 100 residents) people diagnosed and linked to care were estimated, corresponding to an increase of 6.