LAS INFECCIONES DE TRANSMISIÓN SEXUAL. - Euskadi.net

RESULTS
The development of gonococcal infections (GI) is of great relevance as these are indicative of
relatively recent high-risk sexual conduct, and for this reason are used to monitor conducts that
facilitate the transmission of HIV. This study demonstrates that the tendency in our environment
has been similar to that of a number of other European countries with a significant increase in
Neisseria gonorrheae isolations since 1998 among homosexual males. Likewise, since 2003, the
number of cases of syphilis shown has been higher than expected. The high prevalence of HIV
infection in cases of GI (14%) and infectious syphilis (18%) suggest an increase in unprotected
sexual practices between HIV (+) persons, with the aggravating circumstance that these STDs
facilitate the transmission of HIV.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
According to information obtained from an analysis of Osakidetza STD clinic data, together with
the epidemiological trends of neighbouring countries, it is recommended that the public be
alerted to this situation in order to take measures against a possible intensification of these
infections in our environment.
A number of different recommendations are made in order to tackle STD-related problems in the
Basque Autonomous Community. These are grouped in three major areas:
1) Information systems; strengthen the epidemiological surveillance system; establish guidelines
for the research, handling and control of outbreaks of STDs; study the prevalence of STDs in
high-risk populations (immigrants, adolescents, etc.); gather information in a uniform manner in
STD centres; develop regulations and resources to facilitate the investigation of contacts.
2) Prevention of STDs: review and strengthen prevention strategies in high-risk groups; carry out information
campaigns on STDs among the population in order to increase their knowledge of
these diseases and their preventive measures; promote sexual health and safe sex between
HIV (+) persons; carry out further studies on sexual behaviour; improve early detection of
high-risk conducts for STDs in primary care.
3) Health services: improve STD services; establish and enhance coordination between STD services
with primary care services, family planning services, emergency services and specialist areas
such as gynaecology, urology and dermatology; improve access to STD clinics; provide appropriate
diagnostic techniques; remove fluoroquinolones as the antimicrobials of choice in the
treatment of non-complicated gonorrhoea; performance of studies of the resistance to antibiotics
in all isolations of N. Gonorrhoeae; create an STD commission for the Basque Autonomous
Community.
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