Tyranny of distance drives STI surge

Distance is a deterrent to seeking help for STIs: study

Patients who need to travel greater distances for sexual health support often leave worrying symptoms unchecked, according to new research from Melbourne Sexual Health Centre. 

Sexual health epidemiologist Associate Professor Eric Chow said the recent study of more than 7,000 patients revealed that distance rather than socioeconomic status was the main contributing factor behind delayed presentation to a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) service. 

Gonorrhoea incidence growing in Victoria: Study

Gonorrhoea hotspot areas in Melbourne. See interactive graphic
from the Victorian government infectious diseases report.

The Age's Melissa Cunningham reports on research led by Associate Professor Eric Chow which maps notified cases of gonorrhoea in Victoria. She writes that, for the first time, the geographical distribution of gonorrhoea has been tracked over a ten year period, "finding growing clusters of the sexually transmitted infection were infiltrating some of the most socioeconomically disadvantaged areas of Melbourne."

The study describes the geographical distribution of gonorrhoea infection, stratified by gender and population group, in Victoria between 2017 and 2019 using enhanced surveillance data.

Promising approach to improve testing coverage for chlamydia and gonorrhoea

The WHO commissioned Eric Chow (left) and Jason Ong (right) to
 review alternative methods of STI testing from molecular methods.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 1 million new cases of curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are acquired every day. 

As most STIs do not present with any symptoms, screening is critical for early detection and management to avoid the development of complications in the infected individuals and onward transmission to others. Testing for chlamydia and gonorrhoea using molecular methods is costly, prohibiting its widespread use globally. There is a possibility to reduce testing costs if pooling samples from the same individual is feasible. 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the increase: NEJM review

A/Prof Marcus Chen

Prof Deborah Williams

Professor Deborah Williamson (Doherty Institute) and Adjunct Associate Professor Marcus Chen (Melbourne Sexual Health Centre) are authors on a New England Journal of Medicine review article providing an overview of how both established and emerging sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the increase, and their recommendations for controlling the spread of STIs.

Study reveals need to strengthen sexual health services for PrEP users

Dr Jason Ong, lead author
on the JAMA paper

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) – taking antiretroviral drugs to protect people from acquiring HIV infection – is revolutionising the prevention of HIV around the world. However, a global study led by Monash University in Australia and supported by the World Health Organisation has shown that people who are seeking PrEP to prevent HIV are also at high risk of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

The authors of the paper argue that PrEP services could be an ideal place to test for, prevent and treat both HIV and other STIs.

The spectre of untreatable gonorrhea

Dr Jason Ong, Melbourne Sexual Health Centre based researcher, has put together an open access Special Issue, sponsored by the World Health Organisation. The issue was launched at the 23-26 October conference of the International Union of STI - Asia-Pacific in Shanghai. 

This Special Issue of Sexual Health aims to collate the latest evidence base focussed on understanding the current epidemic and transmission of gonorrhoea, choice of treatment, molecular epidemiology application, concerns about antimicrobial resistance and alternative prevention and control for gonorrhoea.

MOU signed between Monash and Xi'an Jiaotong Universities for exchange program

L-R: Professors Yan Hong, Stephen Jane, Robyn Slattery and Associate
Professor Lei Zhang at the MOU ceremony, Xi'an Jiaotong University

Professor Steve Jane, Dean, Sub-Faculty of Translational Medicine and Public Health, with Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU) Vice President, Prof Yan Hong at the ceremony, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for an exchange program between Monash and Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Sciences Centre on 21 October 2019.

"Whose fault is it that Bob caught syphilis?" Professor Christopher Fairley throws some light

Professor Christopher Fairley (left) with colleagues at the
Melbourne Sexual Health Centre

Professor Christopher Fairley AO, Director of the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) has had a lifetime of clinical practice and research into sexually transmitted diseases. He has been recognised by the award of an Order of Australia last year, and the National Health and Medical Research Council have recognised the urgent need to fight the rise of sexually transmitted infections by most recently funding his and MSHC colleagues' research $6 million.

Prof Fairley is giving Central Clinical School's annual public lecture on Thursday 17 October 2019. He asks the question, 'Whose fault is it that Bob caught syphilis?' RSVP here

Plans for China/Australia sexual health centre gain momentum

by Anne Crawford

Prof. Lei Zhang, earlier in the year at the collaborative meeting
to discuss the new joint centre.

The head of the Central Clinical School, Professor Stephen Jane, will visit China next week to discuss plans for a new joint centre researching sexual health, a collaboration between Monash University and Xi'an Jiaotong University in China (XJTU).

The China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Infectious Diseases will bring together researchers from the Central Clinical School’s Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) and School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University in north-western China.

Professor Jane will meet with Professor Yan Hong, Vice President of Xi'an Jiaotong University, to discuss collaboration between the universities’ faculties of medicine, focussing on the exchange of academic staff and students, and possible joint programs.

Access to health care critical to STI control for Indigenous youth

Image: Creative Commons

Two papers by Williams et al. and Scott et al. describe the sexual risks and health-seeking behaviour of young Indigenous Australians. Their sexual risks and health-seeking behaviours are similar to the general Australian population, yet their risk of past sexually transmissible infections (STIs) is higher. These findings are consistent with previous findings and suggest that access to health care, and not sexual risk, remain critical to STI control in remote Indigenous communities.

 Reference: Fairley, C.K., Chow, E.P.F., Hocking, J.S. Early presentation of symptomatic individuals is critical in controlling sexually transmissible infections. Sexual Health, 12(3) pp.181 - 182.

Dating and hook-up apps to combat sexually transmitted infections

Australian researchers have used the gay dating app Grindr to effectively combat a small outbreak of syphilis in Darwin. The study, carried out by the Northern Territory Department of Health and the Northern Territory AIDS and Hepatitis Council (NTAHC), was launched after a number of men tested positive for the infection between February and July 2013.