Document 0602
 DOCN  M9480602
 TI    The national STD surveillance system in Italy: results of the first year
       of activity. STD Surveillance Working Group.
 DT    9410
 AU    Suligoi B; Giuliani M; Binkin N; National AIDS Centre, Istituto
       Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy.
 SO    Int J STD AIDS. 1994 Mar-Apr;5(2):93-100. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94305020
 AB    A prospective STD surveillance system was developed in Italy in 1990.
       Newly diagnosed cases of sexually transmitted disease (STD) are reported
       by a network of 45 sentinel STD clinics throughout the country. A total
       of 10,253 patients were reported between September 1990 and December
       1991. The most frequent diagnoses were genital warts (30.8%),
       non-specific genital infection (male) (12.8%), and non-specific genital
       infection (female) (11.5%). All patients were asked to undergo an HIV
       test; 68.4% accepted, of whom 9.3% were seropositive. During the
       16-month study period HIV prevalence decreased among IDUs and
       homo-bisexuals, but increased among non-IDU heterosexuals. These data
       suggest that STD patients may represent a useful early warning system to
       detect changes in the epidemic and in the spread of the virus among
       low-risk heterosexuals. A better counselling programme is needed to
       improve the acceptance rate of HIV testing among STD patients, and to
       draw more attention to at-risk sexual behaviours.
 DE    Adolescence  Adult  Aged  Aged, 80 and over  AIDS Serodiagnosis  Female
       Human  HIV Infections/DIAGNOSIS/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/ETIOLOGY/PREVENTION &
       CONTROL  *HIV Seroprevalence  Italy/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Male  Middle Age
       Organizational Objectives  Patient Acceptance of Health Care  Patient
       Education  Pilot Projects  Population Surveillance/*METHODS  Primary
       Prevention  Prospective Studies  Risk Factors  Seasons  Sex Behavior
       Sex Education  Sexually Transmitted
       Diseases/DIAGNOSIS/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/ETIOLOGY/  PREVENTION & CONTROL
       Substance Abuse, Intravenous/COMPLICATIONS  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).