Περίληψη:
Objective: Monitoring HIV infection in sentinel populations of sexually
transmitted disease (STD) patients in several geographical areas. This
paper describes the main characteristics of the study populations and
compares HIV seropositivity rates within and between networks in
different subgroups: homo-/bisexuals, intravenous drug users (IVDU) and
non-IVDU heterosexuals.
Design: HIV testing is performed with informed consent in most networks.
It is mandatory for STD patients in Hungary, while the English and
Welsh, Scottish and French networks use unlinked anonymous testing.
Setting: Eighteen networks in 17 European countries are participating in
the study. The networks usually consist of STD or dermato-venereology
clinics.
Patients: Patients presenting at any of the clinic sites with a new
episode of one or more of a selected list of 12 STD were eligible for
the study. This study recorded a total of 36827 STD episodes, registered
between June 1990 and December 1991. HIV test results were known for
33004 (89.6%) of the patients.
Results: HIV seropositivity rates were usually much higher for the
homo-/bisexual and IVDU patients than for the non-IVDU heterosexuals.
However, HIV-seropositive patients were found among non-IVDU
heterosexuals in all but the Czech network.
Conclusion: This Concerted Action has successfully launched an HIV
sentinel surveillance programme among STD patients in 17 European
countries using a standard methodology.
Συγγραφείς:
STROOBANT, A
DECLERCQ, E
KRIZ, B
WORM, AM
SMITH, E and
CATCHPOLE, M
MERCEY, D
PONKA, A
VISA, K
MEYER, L and
COUTURIER, E
BROSSARD, Y
VOGT, HJ
VONZUMBUSCH, V and
PETZOLDT, D
HARTMANN, M
STRATIGOS, J
PAPPA, MH
HORVATH,
A
DURAY, E
SALMASO, S
GIULIANI, M
SULIGOI, B and
VANDENHOEK, A
FENNEMA, JSA
GRANHOLT, A
CARDOSO, J
SANTO,
I
GOLDBERG, DJ
EMSLIE, J
WEIR, M
SCOTT, G
MEDINA, RD
and CONTRERAS, G
ALVAREZ, LP
DELAMATA, I
ANAGRIUS, C and
RUDEN, AK
BILLO, N
SULLIGER, JM
EICHMANN, A
