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DELIVERABLES
European Conference of National Strategies for Chlamydia Trachomatis and Human Papillomavirus; Jurmala, Latvia, May 25-27, 2011
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CONFERENCE BOOK
ESSENTIALS OF THE CONFERENCE
RESULTS OF QUESTIONNAIRES
Diagnostics, surveillance and management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Europe have to be improved. In many countries, STIs are not recognised as a serious public health problem. Official statistics are unreliable due to insensitive diagnostic methods; lack of screening; inadequate surveillance systems and lack of reporting. In these situations, apparent infection rates are low. This then reinforces the view that STIs are not a serious problem. C. trachomatis control programmes should be introduced in all European countries, in a stepwise fashion, focusing on primary prevention; and on improvement of diagnostic capacity including introduction of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs); improvement of patient and partner management and of reporting and surveillance mechanisms. Validated and quality assured NAATs are the best methods for the diagnosis of C. trachomatis infection and should be used routinely whether financially sustainable by the respective National Health system. Where possible, opportunistic or population-based screening programmes can be introduced. A necessary component of any vaccination campaign is a well-planned and organised information campaign, which should have a lead-in period of 1-2 years. These are main lessons from the Conference.
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