Optimising the management of vaginal discharge syndrome in Bulgaria: cost effectiveness of four clinical algorithms with risk assessment

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the performance and cost effectiveness of the WHO recommendations of incorporating risk-assessment scores and population prevalence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) into vaginal discharge syndrome (VDS) algorithms. METHODS: Non-pregnant women presenting with VDS were recruited at a non-governmental sexual health clinic in Sofia, Bulgaria. NG and CT were diagnosed by PCR and vaginal infections by microscopy. Risk factors for NG/CT were identified in multivariable analysis. Four algorithms based on different combinations of behavioural factors, clinical findings and vaginal microscopy were developed. Performance of each algorithm was evaluated for detecting vaginal and cervical infections separately. Cost effectiveness was based on cost per patient treated and cost per case correctly treated. Sensitivity analysis explored the influence of NG/CT prevalence on cost effectiveness. RESULTS: 60% (252/420) of women had genital infections, with 9.5% (40/423) having NG/CT. Factors associated with NG/CT included new and multiple sexual partners in the past 3 months, symptomatic partner, childlessness and >or=10 polymorphonuclear cells per field on vaginal microscopy. For NG/CT detection, the algorithm that relied solely on behavioural risk factors was less sensitive but more specific than those that included speculum examination or microscopy but had higher correct-treatment rate and lower over-treatment rates. The cost per true case treated using a combination of risk factors, speculum examination and microscopy was euro 24.08. A halving and tripling of NG/CT prevalence would have approximately the inverse impact on the cost-effectiveness estimates. CONCLUSIONS: Management of NG/CT in Bulgaria was improved by the use of a syndromic approach that included risk scores. Approaches that did not rely on microscopy lost sensitivity but were more cost effective

Infusional ECarboF in patients with advanced breast cancer: A very active and well-tolerated out-patient regimen

We performed a trial using the combination of epirubicin 50 mg/m2/day 1, carboplatinum AUC 5/day 1 and continuous 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 200 mg/m2/day (every 4 weeks for 6 months) to confirm the efficacy and low toxicity profile of this regimen in breast cancer. In 51 patients with metastatic (n = 33) or locally advanced (n=18) breast cancer the overall response rate was 86% (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 73%-94%): 94% in locally advanced and 81% metastatic disease. Grade 3-4 toxicity was low: 4% of patients presented with febrile neutropenia, 16% with severe palmar-plantar syndrome, 10% with Port-a-cath thrombosis. This study confirms the high efficacy of infusional 5-FU-based regimens and justifies further research into novel promising oral 5-FU derivative

Combined screening for Chlamydia trachomatis and squamous intra-epithelial lesions using a single liquid-based cervical sample

BACKGROUND: Cervicitis is believed to alter cytological interpretation and could compromise a combined screening for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) cervicitis and squamous intra-epithelial lesions (SIL). Liquid-based cytological methods have been shown to limit obscuring factors and permit the detection of infectious agents by DNA amplification techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate a combined screening for SIL and CT cervicitis with a single liquid-based cervical sample. METHODS: Two cervical samples were obtained from each of 590 women considered at high risk for CT. The modified Ligase chain reaction (LCR) procedure for CT detection using specimens collected in the AutoCyte's preservative fluid was compared with the conventional Abbott LCx method using cervical swabs. We have also compared the percentage of inflammatory specimens and adequacy of cellular material in the populations of CT+ and CT- women. RESULTS: The results show total agreement for 588 of 590 cervical samples using the two LCR protocols (Kappa = 0.96; 95% confidence interval: 0.91-1.00). The quality of cervical cytology was not compromised by CT cervicitis. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the feasibility of combined screening for CT and SIL with a single liquid-based cervical sampl