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2006-10-24Zeitschriftenartikel DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-6-264
Identifying outbreaks of sexually transmitted infection: who cares?
dc.contributor.authorWerber, Dirk
dc.contributor.authorEvans, Meirion R
dc.contributor.authorThomas, Daniel Rh
dc.date.accessioned2018-05-07T13:26:04Z
dc.date.available2018-05-07T13:26:04Z
dc.date.created2009-12-03
dc.date.issued2006-10-24none
dc.identifier.otherhttp://edoc.rki.de/oa/articles/rerOd5JTpjKz2/PDF/256NpAOwMgOh.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://edoc.rki.de/176904/495
dc.description.abstractBackground: Current routine surveillance schemes for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United Kingdom (UK) are not designed for outbreak identification. Recognising STI outbreaks, therefore, depends almost entirely on the alertness of health professionals. The objective of this study was to explore health professionals' knowledge of, and attitudes towards, identification and investigation of STI outbreaks in Wales. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in Wales in June 2005, and sent a questionnaire to consultants of genitourinary medicine (GUM, n = 11), a consultant microbiologist from each laboratory (n = 14), all consultants in communicable disease control (n = 5), and to epidemiologists of the National Public Health Service (n = 4). Results: 26 (76%) of 34 survey recipients responded. Of these, 17 (65%) ranked the investigation of STI outbreaks as important or very important, and 19 (73%) perceived participation in the investigation of an STI outbreak as part of their responsibility. Only six (25%) respondents had actively searched their computer system or patient records for a possible STI outbreak in the previous twelve months, and 15 (63%) had never looked for an outbreak. Of seven GUM physicians who said they had identified at least one STI outbreak, three had never informed public health authorities. Conclusion: Prompt identification and coordinated investigation of outbreaks, usually through a multidisciplinary outbreak control team, is central to the control of many infectious diseases. This does not appear to be the case for STIs, which we believe represents a lost opportunity to reduce transmission. Besides improved surveillance methods, a change in culture towards STI outbreaks is needed among health professionals in Wales.eng
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherRobert Koch-Institut, Infektionsepidemiologie
dc.subjectHumanseng
dc.subjectPopulation Surveillanceeng
dc.subjectClinical Competenceeng
dc.subjectCommunicable Disease Control/standardseng
dc.subjectCross-Sectional Studieseng
dc.subjectDisease Outbreaks*/prevention & controleng
dc.subjectHealth Personnel/psychologyeng
dc.subjectHealth Personnel/standardseng
dc.subjectHealth Personnel/statistics & numerical dataeng
dc.subjectPatient Care Teameng
dc.subjectPublic Health Administration/standardseng
dc.subjectQuestionnaireseng
dc.subjectSexually Transmitted Diseases/prevention & controleng
dc.subjectSexually Transmitted Diseases/psychologyeng
dc.subjectSpecialtieseng
dc.subjectMedical/statistics & numerical dataeng
dc.subjectWales/epidemiologyeng
dc.subject.ddc610 Medizin
dc.titleIdentifying outbreaks of sexually transmitted infection: who cares?
dc.typeperiodicalPart
dc.identifier.urnurn:nbn:de:0257-1003104
dc.identifier.doi10.1186/1471-2458-6-264
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.25646/420
local.edoc.container-titleBMC Public Health
local.edoc.fp-subtypeArtikel
local.edoc.type-nameZeitschriftenartikel
local.edoc.container-typeperiodical
local.edoc.container-type-nameZeitschrift
local.edoc.container-urlhttp://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/6/264
local.edoc.container-publisher-nameBioMedCentral
local.edoc.container-volume6
local.edoc.container-issue264
local.edoc.container-year2006

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