Highly variable use of diagnostic methods for sexually transmitted infections-results of a nationwide survey, Germany 2005

BMC Infectious Diseases

Research Article

Viviane Bremer¹  Alexandra Hofmann¹  Osamah Hamouda¹  Andreas Gilsdorf² 

[1] Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany;Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP), Berlin, Germany;Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany;

关键词: Syphilis;    Sexual Transmitted Infection;    Vaginal Swab;    Private Practitioner;    Sentinel Site;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2334-10-98

 received in 2009-12-04, accepted in 2010-04-19,  发布年份 2010

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundSexual transmitted infections (STIs) have increased in Germany and other countries in Europe since the mid-nineties. To obtain a better picture of diagnostic methods used in STI testing institutions in Germany, we performed a nationwide survey amongst STI specialists in order to evaluate the quality of STI reports and provide recommendations to harmonize and possibly improve STI diagnostics in Germany.MethodsWe asked sentinel physicians and randomly chosen gynaecologists, urologists and dermato-venerologists, about the diagnostic methods used in 2005 to diagnose HIV, chlamydia (CT), gonorrhoea (GO) and syphilis (SY) in a national cross-sectional survey in order to recognize potential problems and provide recommendations.ResultsA total of 739/2287 (32%) physicians participated. Of all participants, 80% offered tests for HIV, 84% for CT, 83% for GO and 83% for SY. Of all participants who performed HIV testing, 90% requested an antibody test, 3% a rapid test and 1% a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). For CT testing, NAAT was used in 33% and rapid tests in 34% of participants. GO resistance testing was performed by 31% of the participants. SY testing was performed in 98% by serology.ConclusionsDiagnostic methods for STI vary highly among the participants. Diagnostic guidelines should be reviewed and harmonised to ensure consistent use of the optimal STI diagnostic methods.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Gilsdorf et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2010