59 research outputs found
HPV-Genital Infections, Men and the HPV Vaccine: New Horizons
ZahvaljujuÄi razvoju suvremenih metoda molekularne medicine, prije svega rekombinantne tehnologije DNK, do danas se utvrdilo oko 150 tipova HPV-a. Genitalne infekcije uzrokovane HPV-om kliniÄki se najÄeÅ”Äe manifestiraju kao Å”irok spektar dermatoveneroloÅ”kih bolesti, od Äega posebno istiÄemo: condylomata acuminata (Å”iljasti kondilomi), condylomata plana (ravni kondilomi), gigantski kondilom Buschke-Lƶwenstein, papulosis bowenoides, kao i razne druge kliniÄke manifestacije intraepitelnih neoplazija (IN) vanjskoga genitalnog sustava (dakle, ne samo cervikalne intraepitelne neoplazije, CIN), poput npr. penilne (PIN), analne (AIN), vulvarne (VIN), skrotalne (SIN) ili vaginalne (VAIN) intraepitelne neoplazije. Genitalne infekcije uzrokovane humanim papilomavirusom (HPV) najÄeÅ”Äe se pojavljuju u mladoj, generativno sposobnoj populaciji te je stoga njihovo uspjeÅ”no praÄenje i lijeÄenje obveza svakog druÅ”tva
koje teži napretku. Ove su bolesti sve viÅ”e predmetom istraživanja s obzirom na njihovu najviÅ”u uÄestalost unutar skupine virusnih spolno prenosivih infekcija (STIs, engleski: sexually transmitted infections), sklonost recidivima, dugotrajno lijeÄenje i povezanost s pojavom zloÄudnih bolesti. Izbor lijeÄenja ovisi o opÄem stanju i dobi bolesnika, o obliku, veliÄini i lokalizaciji promjena, kao i o iskustvu terapeuta. No, svakako treba istaÄi da joÅ” ne postoji specifi Äno protuvirusno lijeÄenje HPV-genitalnih infekcija, recidivi su Äesti (30-70%), a raznovrsni terapijski pristupi ponekad vrlo neugodni za bolesnika i zahtjevni za lijeÄnika. S obzirom na sve navedeno, kao i na dostupnost cjepiva protiv HPV-infekcija, danas je HPV-cijepljenje obaju spolova ozbiljan pomak koji znaÄajno unaprjeÄuje pristup ovom problemu.Up to 150 HPV DNA types have been identified so far. Anogenital warts (condylomata acuminata) are the most common lesions presented in men. However, during the last decade the other HPV-associated lesions such as condylomata plana, penile, scrotal, and anal intraepithelial neoplasias, as well as the penile, urine bladder and prostate cancer have been studied a little bit more extensively. The clinical variations might range from clinically "invisible", "asymptomatic" lesions to the bizarre forms of giant condyloma of Buschke-Lƶwenstein type, including Bowenoid papulosis, Mb. Bowen, different kinds of erythroplasia in both men and women and a large spectrum of HPV-induced dermatovenereological entities in genital region including high-grade intraepithelial genital neoplasias, such as penile, anal, scrotal, vulvar, vaginal etc. (thus not only cervical), and, last but not least, anogenital warts. In general, anogenital infections caused by Human papillomavirus (HPV) are the most frequently diagnosed sexually transmitted infections (STIs) of viral origin. A prophylactic vaccine that targets these types should thus substantially reduce the burden of HPV-associated clinical diseases. Ultimately, within the spectrum of therapeutic options for condylomata, no method is really superior to others; recurrences occurred in 30-70% of cases. We definitely need the HPV vaccination program to eradicate
one of the oldest and up to now unsolved problems of mankind. Since HPV is transmitted by sexual intercourse, managing both partners is necessary in order to eliminate the virus in the population. The appropriate approaches include prophylactic vaccines such as the quadrivalent HPV vaccine for both men and women
Trichomonas and Candida in the Light of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Trichomonas vaginalis je biÄaÅ” koji inficira urogenitalni trakt. Infekcija uzrokuje vaginitis u žena te uretritis i balanopostitis u muÅ”karaca. Glavni put prijenosa je spolni. Infekcija je asimptomatska uglavnom u muÅ”karaca i u polovice inficiranih žena. Prijevremeni porod i niska poroÄajna težina moguÄe su komplikacije. Dijagnoza se rijetko potvrdi u muÅ”karaca, dok je u žena neÅ”to jednostavnija na temelju pregleda nativnog preparata, iako se kultura danas smatra pouzdanijom. UspjeÅ”na terapija provodi se peroralnom primjenom preparata metronidazola ili tinidazola u oba partnera. U svakom sluÄaju treba naglasiti pitanje rezistencije na azolske pripravke, Å”to je danas sve veÄi terapijski problem. Gljive roda Candida (C.) bitan su patogeni agens za Äovjeka, no istodobno su i dio fizioloÅ”ke flore.
Naseljavanje genitalne regije žena gljivama roda kandida, poglavito
vrstom C. albicans, oÄituje se kliniÄki kao vaginitis odnosno vulvovaginitis. Prijenos spolnim putem sa žene na muÅ”karca je Äest, a u muÅ”karaca se oÄituje kao balanitis odnosno balanopostitis. Dijagnoza se potvrÄuje mikoloÅ”kom obradom (nativni pripravak i kultura). Terapija se provodi lokalnom primjenom preparata imidazola, kao i peroralnom primjenom azolskih pripravaka (flukonazol i itrakonazol). Racionalna primjena peroralne antimikotske terapije sve je znaÄajnija u suvremenom konceptu lijeÄenja genitalne kandidoze.Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellated parasite which infects the urogenital tract. It causes vaginitis in women and urethritis and balanoposthitis in men. The main route of transmission is through sexual contact. In men and half of all women the infection usually appears to be asymptomatic. Complications might include the preterm birth and low-birth-weight infants. It is not always so easy to diagnose it in men, whereas the diagnosis in women seems to be easier with the use of the wet mount examination. However, cultivation methods including the molecular techniques are currently the "gold standard".
The therapy of choice is oral metronidazole or tinidazole simultaneously administered to both partners. An increasing resistance to azole preparations appears to be a major problem
nowadays. Candida species is at the same time the main pathogenic yeast for humans and part of the physiological flora. Genital involvement in women is mostly presented in the form of vaginitis and vulvovaginitis. In men, the infection with Candida is presented as balanitis or balanoposthitis. Diagnosis should be confirmed by mycological testing. Topical treatment with imidazole and/or oral therapy with fluconazole or itraconazole have proven to be very safe and effective. We have no right to neglect either trichomoniasis or genital candidosis in the light of sexually transmitted infections
Urogenital Infections Caused by Human Papilloma and Herpes Simplex Viruses
Prikazane su bitne znaÄajke urogenitalnih infekcija
uzrokovanih humanim papiloma (HPV) i herpes simpleks
virusom (HSV). Genitalne infekcije uzrokovane HPV-om sve su
viŔe predmet istraživanja s obzirom na njihovu visoku
uÄestalost unutar skupine spolno prenosivih infekcija (STIs,
engleski sexually transmitted infections), sklonost recidivima,
dugotrajno lijeÄenje i povezanosti s pojavom zloÄudnih bolesti.
HPV-genitalne infekcije najÄeÅ”Äe se pojavljuju u mladoj, generativno
sposobnoj populaciji te je stoga njihovo uspjeŔno
praÄenje i lijeÄenje obveza svakog druÅ”tva koje teži napretku.
Do danas se utvrdilo viŔe od 100 tipova HPV-a. Genitalne
infekcije uzrokovane HPV-om kliniÄki se najÄeÅ”Äe manifestiraju
kao sljedeÄi entiteti: condylomata acuminata (Å”iljasti
kondilomi), condylomata plana (ravni kondilomi), gigantski
kondilom Buschke-Lƶwenstein i papulosis bowenoides. Danas
je neposredna detekcija HPV DNA u uzorku tkiva ili obrisku
metoda izbora u dijagnostici HPV-genitalnih infekcija. Za sada
ne postoji specifiÄno protuvirusno lijeÄenje HPV-genitalnih
infekcija, stoga izbor lijeÄenja ovisi o opÄem stanju i dobi
bolesnika, o obliku, veliÄini i lokalizaciji promjena, kao i o
iskustvu terapeuta. Å to se genitalnog herpesa tiÄe, njegovi
Äesti i nepredvidivi recidivi, pojava ulceracija, visoka kontagioznost
u aktivnoj fazi bolesti, kao i latentna faza infekcije
terapijski su probem i lijeÄniku i bolesniku. Vrlo strogo
gledano, s obzirom na to da HSV u latentnoj fazi perzistira u
ganglijima živÄanog sustava, joÅ” ne postoji lijek kojim bi se
problem genitalnog herpesa definitivno rijeŔio. Velik je
napredak postignut pojavom specifiÄnih protuvirusnih lijekova
za lijeÄenje aktivne faze herpetiÄne infekcije - aciklovira,
valaciklovira i famciklovira. Postoji veÄ velik broj i kliniÄkih
studija rezultati kojih pokazuju visoku uÄinkovitost spomenutih
lijekova u kratkotrajnom epizodnom, kao i prolongiranom,
supresivnom lijeÄenju genitalnog herpesa.The article presents essential characteristics
of urogenital infections caused by human papilloma (HPV) and
herpes simplex viruses (HSV). Genital infections caused by HPV
are increasingly the subject of investigation, because of their
high incidence within the group of sexually transmitted infections
(STIs), high relapse rate, long-lasting treatment and association
with malignances. HPV genital infections occur mostly in
young, childbearing population. Thus, their successful treatment
and follow up is an obligation of each society in search
of progress. Until today, more than 100 HPV types have been
confirmed. Genital infections caused by HPV are clinically manifested
mainly as the following entities: genital warts condyloma
(condylomata acuminata), flat condyloma (condylomata
plana), giant condyloma of Buschke-Loewenstein type and
Bowenoid papulosis (papulosis Bowenoide). Today the HPV
DNA detection in the tissue sample or in the smear is the
method of choice in the diagnostics of HPV genital infections.
For the time being there is no specific antiviral treatment of HPV
genital infection. Thus, the choice of treatment depends on the
patientās general health state and age, on the type, size and
site of changes, as well as on the therapistās experience. As for
genital herpes, its frequent and unpredictable relapses, the
occurrence of ulcerations, high contagiousness in the active
phase as well as the latent phase of the infection present therapeutic
problem both for the physician and patient. As HSV in
latent phases persists in nervous system ganglia, a drug that
would definitely solve the problem of genital herpes still does
not exist. Great advance has been achieved by specific antiviral
drugs for the active phase of herpetic infection - acyclovir,
valacyclovir and famcyclovir. There is a large number of clinical
studies the results of which show high efficacy of the mentioned
medications in short episodic and in prolonged, suppressive
treatment of genital herpes
Superfi cial Fungal Infections and Contemporary Treatment Modalities
Dermatomikoze su jedna od najÄeÅ”Äih bolesti
unutar skupine dermatoveneroloÅ”kih bolesti i vrlo Äest razlog
posjeta lijeÄniku. Patogenost gljiva izrazito je ovisna o imunosnom
odgovoru nosioca, stoga su gljive vrlo Äesti uzroÄnici
oportunistiÄkih infekcija. Ta je problematika danas vrlo aktualna
s obzirom na sve veÄu primjenu imunosupresivne i antibiotske
terapije, pojavu HIV-infekcije/AIDS-a, kao i zbog drugih razloga
koji smanjuju prirodnu otpornost organizma. U smislu dinamike
epidemiologije i kliniÄke slike, istiÄemo primjer mikrosporoze.
Zanimljivo je da je dugo vremena zoofi lna mikrosporoza bila
iznimno rijetka. MeÄutim, u zagrebaÄkoj regiji je, prema podacima
Referentnog centra Ministarstva zdravstva i socijalne skrbi
Republike Hrvatske za dermatoloŔku mikologiju i parazitologiju
(MikoloŔkog laboratorija) Klinike za kožne i spolne bolesti
Medicinskog fakulteta SveuÄiliÅ”ta u Zagrebu, od 1978. godine
(1 sluÄaj) nadalje, broj kulturom dokazanih izolata M. canis u
stalnom porastu, a u posljednjem desetljeÄu doseže epidemijske
razmjere (2006. godine = 328). Danas je sasvim jasno da
je peroralna terapija antimikoticima neizostavni dio terapije kad
za to postoji jasna indikacija i kad je uzroÄnik verifi ciran u kompetentnom
laboratoriju. Osnovne āklasiÄneā indikacije za peroralnu
terapiju dermatomikoza su mikoza vlasiŔta i onihomikoza
jer se u tim sluÄajevima primjenom samo lokalne terapije neÄe
postiÄi zadovoljavajuÄi uspjeh. MeÄutim, danas se peroralna
antimikotska terapija (terbinafi n, fl ukonazol, itrakonazol, rjeÄe
grizeofulvin, dok je peroralna primjena ketokonazola danas
gotovo napuÅ”tena) primjenjuje i u nekim drugim sluÄajevima,
kao npr. u diseminiranoj mikozi gole kože, kod nekih sluÄajeva
pitirijazis verzikolor, kod imunokompromitiranih bolesnika itd.
Treba svakako napomenuti da moramo biti svjesni moguÄnosti
pojave dermatomikoze, katkad i u drugaÄijem kliniÄkom obrascu
nego Å”to smo uobiÄajeno navikli te u tom smislu usmjeriti pretrage
kako bismo Ŕto ranije i preciznije verifi cirali dijagnozu i na
vrijeme zapoÄeli adekvatno lijeÄenje. LijeÄenju dermatomikoza,
pogotovo u sluÄaju peroralne terapije, pristupamo samo na
temelju pozitivnog rezultata kulture. Svaki drugi pristup danas
se smatra neprimjerenim i znaÄi vitium artis.Fungal infections are very important in dermatological
practice. On the other hand, the clinical appearance
of lesions consistent with the fungal infections of the face may
simulate other dermatological entities, making the diagnosis
diffi cult. For example, the data regarding the etiology of the
fungal infections due to Microsporum canis (M. canis) ranged
from 1 case in the year 1978 verifi ed by culture to 328 positive
cultures in 2006 according to the data of the Reference
Laboratory for Dermatological Mycology and Parasitology of the
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of the Republic of Croatia
at the University Department of Dermatology and Venereology
of the University of Zagreb Medical School. The clinical features
were rather different, ranging from solitary lesion of 1 cm in
diameter up to a multiple ātinea incognitaā pattern involving
almost the whole face. Fungal infections involving both skin and
its appendages represent one of the most common disease and
a recalcitrant problem in dermatology demanding appropriate
treatment strategy. In many cases introducing the specifi c, only
topical antimycotic therapy, was not suffi cient to obtain a good
therapeutic result. Topical antimycotic treatment is ineffective
as sole therapy, and an oral antimycotic agent is needed to
penetrate the hair follicle. Early systemic agents were not entirely
satisfactory. Onychomycosis, tinea capitis and disseminated
mycoses very often involving face and neck in both immunocompetent
and immunocompromised carriers represent a clear
indication for systemic antimycotic therapy. Until recently, however,
treatment options for such fungal infections were limited.
Griseofulvin requires prolonged course of treatment and it is not
effi cient against yeasts, whereas in the case of ketoconazole,
there is a rare but serious risk of hepatotoxicity. Fortunately,
new oral antifungal agents such as fungicidal terbinafi ne and
fungistatic itraconazole and fl uconazole are now available for
these indications. There should be greater awareness of the
mycotic infections of the face, to avoid missing the true etiology
and to avoid inappropriate treatment
Mollusca Contagiosa
Mollusca contagiosa (MC) definiramo kao Äestu virusnu infekciju kože uzrokovanu Molluscipox virusom (MCV) koja se viÄa u djece i odraslih. KliniÄki se manifestira u obliku malih, umbiliciranih papula voÅ”tana sjaja. Dok su MC relativno Äesta u djece od 1. do 5. godine i mogu biti smjeÅ”tene bilo gdje na tijelu, njihova pojavnost u odraslih uglavnom se smatra spolno prenosivom infekcijom (engl. sexually transmitted infection, STI). MCV se može prenositi direktno s osobe na osobu ili autoinokulacijom. MCV u odraslih karakteristiÄno zahvaÄa genitalnu regiju. MeÄutim, ekstragenitalni smjeÅ”taj kod odraslih tipiÄno se viÄa u imunosuprimiranih bolesnika, osobito u bolesnika
s HIV-om/AIDS-om. Prema novijim literaturnim podacima, pojava
MC u HIV-pozitivnih bolesnika, smatra se dijelom sindroma imunosnog oporavka (engl. immune reconstitution inflammatory
syndrome, IRIS). MC, stoga, u djece zahvaÄa podjednako oba spola, no, Äini se da je incidencija u odrasloj populaciji veÄa kod muÅ”karaca. LijeÄenje, koje nije uvijek nužno, može biti korisno u prevenciji daljnjeg prijenosa infekcije ili autoinokulacije. Nažalost, ne postoji etioloÅ”ko lijeÄenje MC, a veÄina postupaka koji se primjenjuju mehaniÄka je, Å”to katkad uzrokuje odreÄeni stupanj nelagode ili boli. Osobitu pažnju treba posvetiti ekstragenitalno smjeÅ”tenim MC kod odraslih, kada bi svakako trebalo preporuÄiti obradu na HIV. I djecu i odrasle s MC trebalo bi poduÄiti da izbjegavaju ÄeÅ”anje kože, kao i kontakte s drugom osobom (uglavnom spolni kontakti kod odraslih), kako bi se sprijeÄio daljnji prijenos infekcije i/ili autoinokulacija.
Osim toga, kod odraslih bolesnika s MC treba uÄiniti pažljiv probirna ostale STI te ih savjetovati o eventualnom lijeÄenju i daljim postupcima.Mollusca contagiosa (MC) are defi ned as a common cutaneous viral infection caused by the Molluscipox virus (MCV) and affecting both children and adults. MC are clinically characterized by small, waxy, dome-shaped umbilicated papules. Whereas mollusca contagiosa are rather frequent in 1-5 year-old children and can be localized almost anywhere on the body, their appearance in adults is mostly regarded as a sexually transmitted infection (STI). MCV might be transmitted
directly from person to person or by autoinoculation. MC in adults characteristically involve the genital area. However, the extragenital appearance of MC in adults is more typically seen in patients with immunosuppressive conditions, especially in HIV/AIDS patients. The onset of MC in HIV-positive individuals can be, according to the current literature data, regarded as a part of the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). It is most probable that MC affect both sexes equally in childrenās age, whereas in adults they seem to be more frequent in men. Therapy may be beneficial in preventing transmission or autoinoculation. Unfortunately, there has been no etiological treatment of MC so far, and the majority of treatment options are mechanical, causing sometimes a certain degree of discomfort, or are not enough "evidence-based". Special
attention should be given to the extragenital site of MC involvement
in adults, and HIV serology testing should certainly be recommended in such patients. Both children and adults with MC should be educated to avoid scratching and skin contact with others to prevent transmission and autoinoculation. Besides, adult patients with MC should be carefully screened for other STIs and counseled appropriately
Microbiological Diagnostics of Sexually Transmitted Infections
Spolno prenosive infekcije važan su problem u svijetu i u nas, kako zbog velike uÄestalosti tako i zbog moguÄih trajnih posljedica za zdravlje kao Å”to su neplodnost, zdjeliÄna upalna bolest, izvanmaterniÄna trudnoÄa, karcinom, kongenitalne infekcije, pa Äak i smrt. Za razliku od drugih infekcija koje se prenose kontaktom, velik broj oboljelih nema jasnih simptoma, ili su simptomi odsutni, a viÅ”estruke su ("mijeÅ”ane") infekcije takoÄer Äeste. Za toÄnu etioloÅ”ku dijagnozu uzroÄnika spolno prenosivih infekcija potrebni su osjetljivi i specifi Äni testovi. Osim klasiÄnih dijagnostiÄkih metoda danas se dijagnostika spolno prenosivih infekcija sve viÅ”e temelji na metodama
molekularne biologije koje u odnosu na klasiÄne metode imaju znaÄajno veÄu osjetljivost i specifi Änost te postaju "zlatni standard"
za veÄinu ovih infekcija. Na tržiÅ”tu postoji velik broj komercijalnih
testova koji se baziraju na hibridizaciji (hybrid capture) ili na jednoj od amplifi kacijskih metoda (PCR, TMA, SDA). Zbog visoke osjetljivosti ovih testova uzroÄnici se mogu detektirati u neinvazivnim uzorcima (urin) ili omoguÄavaju bolesnicama/bolesnicima da same/i uzmu uzorak (obrisak vagine, vulve ili analne regije). Na taj naÄin postiže se bolja suradljivost ciljne populacije.Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are an important global problem both due to their increasing rate and serious health consequences such as infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, congenital infections, and even mortality. Many STIs are asymptomatic and therefore go undetected and untreated. This is of particular concern with the recognition that HIV transmission is increased with co-existent STIs. Therefore, accurate, cost-effective and reliable diagnostic assays are needed to obtain more precise data on the incidence of various STIs. Conventional diagnostic assays have
a relatively low sensitivity. However, with the advent of molecular technologies, including target and signal amplifi cation methods,
diagnostics of STIs have been revolutionised and allow the use of non-invasive or minimally invasive sampling techniques, some of which are self-collected by the patient, e.g. first-void urine and low vaginal swabs. Most studies evaluating such self-sampling with molecular diagnostic techniques have demonstrated an equivalent or superior detection of STIs as compared to conventional sampling and detection methods
Chlamydia Trachomatis Study Group (CTSG) and Problems Related to Chlamydial Genital Infections
Chlamydia trachomatis najÄeÅ”Äi je uzroÄnik spolno prenosivih infekcija bakterijske etiologije i svake godine diljem svijeta uzrokuje 92 milijuna novih infekcija. Å to se tiÄe zemalja Srednje i IstoÄne Europe, epidemioloÅ”ka slika klamidijske genitalne infekcije ne može se sa sigurnoÅ”Äu procjenjivati. Naime, prijavljivanje klamidijskih infekcija ne provodi se sustavno, studije o prevalenciji su sporadiÄne i teÅ”ko metodoloÅ”ki usporedive, a preventivni programi na asimptomatskoj populaciji uglavnom ne postoje. Procjenjuje se da je incidencija klamidijske genitalne infekcije u Srednjoj i IstoÄnoj Europi 21 do 276 sluÄaja na 100.000 stanovnika. Javnozdravstvena važnost
klamidijske genitalne infekcije oÄituje se u Äinjenici da je njezina prevalencija najviÅ”a u mladoj populaciji, da je najveÄim dijelom asimptomatska te da nelijeÄena infekcija može rezultirati kasnim posljedicama u obliku kroniÄne upalne zdjeliÄne bolesti, sterilnosti ili izvanmaterniÄne trudnoÄe. Osim toga, pokazalo se da su troÅ”kovi lijeÄenja komplikacija klamidijskih infekcija veÄi od troÅ”kova lijeÄenja svih drugih spolno prenosivih bolesti, osim lijeÄenja HIV/AIDS-a. Danas se klamidijska infekcija otkriva jednostavnim, pouzdanim i neinvazivnim testovima, a terapija izbora, 1 g azitromicina primijenjen jednokratno, dokazala se uÄinkovitom i sigurnom, posebice u sluÄajevima akutnih infekcija. Azitromicin se takoÄer pokazao lijekom izbora i za kroniÄne infekcije, klamidijski prostatitis, kao i za lijeÄenje znaÄajnih komplikacija, kao Å”to je npr. upalna zdjeliÄna bolest. Kako bi pridonijela podizanju svijesti i znanja o klamidijskoj genitalnoj infekciji, PLIVA je 2002. godine na Brijunima okupila 40 struÄnjaka iz Srednje, IstoÄne i Zapadne Europe, kao i Sjedinjenih AmeriÄkih Država koji se, s razliÄitih aspekata, bave klamidijom. U tom smislu osnovana je Chlamydia Trachomatis Study
Group (CTSG) - radna skupina za istraživanje C. trachomatis, koja je, u meÄuvremenu, prerasla u meÄunarodnu mrežu znanstvenika povezanih u meÄunarodnu udrugu.Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common causative agent of sexually transmitted infections of bacterial etiology, causing annually 92 million new infections worldwide. As far as Central and Eastern European ("CEE") countries are concerned, the epidemiological picture of chlamydial genital infections cannot be reliably estimated since there is no systematic registration, prevalence studies are sporadic and methodologically hardly comparable, and prevention programs focusing on asymptomatic population are scarce. The incidence of chlamydial genital infections in CEE is estimated to be 21 to 276 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The public health importance
of chlamydial genital infections lies in the fact that their prevalence is the highest in young population, that they are mostly asymptomatic and that, if left untreated, they may later result in chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, sterility or ectopic pregnancy. Additionally, the costs of treatment of chlamydial infection complications have shown to be higher than those of treatment of all other sexually transmitted diseases, with the exception of HIV/AIDS. Today chlamydial infections are diagnosed by simple, reliable and non-invasive tests, and the therapy of choice is a single dose of 1 g azithromycin, which has
proven to be safe and effective, especially in acute infections. Azithromycin also proved to be the drug of choice in the treatment
of chronic infections, chlamydial prostatitis, and in the treatment of major complications, such as pelvic inflammatory disease. In order to contribute to raising the awareness and knowledge about chlamydial genital infections, PLIVA gathered 40 experts treating different aspects of chlamydial infections from CEE, Western Europe and the United States on the Brijuni Islands in 2002. They established a Chlamydia Trachomatis Study Group (CTSG), i.e. the group for research of C. trachomatis, which in the meantime grew into an international association of scientists
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