2023-10-27 07:48:32
Historic High in European Region for Sexually Transmitted Infectious Diseases Recorded in 2019 – MedUni Vienna Experts Contribute to “The Lancet Regional Health” Series
(Vienna, October 27, 2023) The European region of the World Health Organization (WHO) recorded a historic high of 17 million reported cases of sexually transmitted infectious diseases in 2019. In response to this alarming trend, international experts, including Georg Stary and Katja Knapp from MedUni Vienna, have developed a comprehensive overview of the situation and the challenges for public health. Their findings are currently being published in the renowned journal “The Lancet Regional Health – Europe”.
One of the United Nations’ goals outlined in the “Agenda 2030” is to reduce sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to a level that eliminates the threat to the global population. In order to refocus on this project, particularly in the European WHO region, experts have addressed the topic in four recently published studies. These studies analyze the epidemiology of STIs in Europe, ongoing prevention strategies in various countries, and access to modern treatment methods for affected individuals.
The current data reveals the urgent need for action. For instance, between 2010 and 2019, the number of syphilis cases among individuals aged 15 to 49 in Europe rose by 87 percent. In the same period, there were almost twice as many new HIV diagnoses compared to previous decades, with approximately 1.5 million people currently reported to be affected. Additionally, there has been a concerning increase in chlamydia and gonorrhea infections as well as the occurrence of infections previously not associated with sexual transmission, such as hepatitis B and shigellosis. Even Austria is experiencing this worrying trend, particularly with high levels of gonorrhea and chlamydia infections, according to Georg Stary and Katja Knapp from the University Clinic for Dermatology at MedUni Vienna.
The scientists attribute this development to an increase in high-risk sexual behavior, which includes unprotected sexual intercourse with multiple partners. They highlight the efficient preventative strategy of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, which prevents HIV infections but can contribute to the spread of other STIs if condoms are not used.
While the numbers are alarming, their significance is limited by country-specific conditions. Therefore, one of the experts’ demands is to standardize surveillance and reporting systems for STIs among European WHO member states. This would enable the collection of reliable data on the size and composition of target groups, particularly for prevention measures. It is also crucial to maintain awareness of the importance of condoms as protection against STIs. Georg Stary criticizes the lack of meaningful data on the occurrence of the most common STIs in Austria and emphasizes the urgent need for resistance profiles for bacterial STIs to ensure the prompt and targeted administration of antibiotics when necessary.
The series of articles published in “The Lancet Regional Health – Europe” include:
– “Treatment of bacterial sexually transmitted infections in Europe: gonorrhea, Mycoplasma genitalium, and syphilis” by Oriol Mitjà, Clara Suñer, Lorenzo Giacani, Martí Vall-Mayans, George-Sorin Tiplica, Jonathan DC Ross, and Catriona S. Bradshawh.
– “Prevention strategies for sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and viral hepatitis in Europe” by Deniz Gokengin, Teymur Noori, Andrea Alemany, Carlo Bienkowski, Geoffroy Liegon, Ahmet Çagkan Inca, Jorge Carillo, George Stary, Katja Knapp, Oriol Mitja, and Jean-Michel Molinal.
– “Epidemiology and determinants of reemerging bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and emerging STIs in Europe” by Oriol Mitjà, Valeska Padovese, Cinta Folch, Isotta Rossoni, Michael Marks, Miquel Angel Rodríguez i Arias, Amalio Telenti, Angela Ciuffi, Karel Blondeel, Otilia Mårdh, and Jordi Casabonae.
– “Managing bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and preventing HIV/STIs in Europe” by Cécile Bébéar, Sabine Pereyre, Béatrice Berçot, and Charles Cazanaveb.]
#Record #high #sexually #transmitted #diseases #Europe