Point-of-care diagnostics for sexually transmitted infections among migrants in Greece
SETTING: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can impact individuals of any demographic. The most common pathogens causing STIs are Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhea and Trichomonas vaginalis; these can be treated with specific antibiotics. OBJECTIVE: To compare the GeneXpert CT/NG test-a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Union
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Public Health Action |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5588/pha.23.0022 |
| _version_ | 1797201504258490368 |
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| author | C. Tsorou A. Williams W. van den Boogaard N. Staderini E. Repetto A. Terzidis E. Pikoulis |
| author_facet | C. Tsorou A. Williams W. van den Boogaard N. Staderini E. Repetto A. Terzidis E. Pikoulis |
| author_sort | C. Tsorou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | SETTING: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can impact individuals of any demographic. The most common pathogens causing STIs are Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhea and Trichomonas vaginalis; these can be treated with specific antibiotics. OBJECTIVE: To compare the GeneXpert CT/NG test-and-treat algorithm to the syndromic approach algorithm and their impact on antibiotic prescription for gonorrhoea and chlamydia STIs. DESIGN: A retrospective observational study on women aged ≥18 years who accessed the Médecins Sans Frontières Day Care Centre in Athens with complaints related to urogenital infections between January 2021 and March 2022. Women with abnormal vaginal discharge, excluding clinically diagnosed candidiasis, were eligible for Xpert CT/NG testing. RESULTS: Of the 450 women who accessed care, 84 were eligible for Xpert CT/NG testing, and only one was positive for chlamydia, therefore resulting in saving 81 doses of ceftriaxone and azithromycin, and 19 doses of metronidazole. The cost of Xpert CT/NG testing, including treatment was €4,606.37, while full antibiotic treatment would have costed €536.76. CONCLUSION: The overall cost of the Xpert CT/NG test-and-treat algorithm was higher than the syndromic approach. However, quality of care should be weighed against the potential benefits of testing and syndromic treatment to determine the best option for each patient; we therefore advocate for decreasing the costs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:48:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-280af710bc884e1c87a74fcf3cffcb88 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2220-8372 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:48:36Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | The Union |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Public Health Action |
| spelling | doaj.art-280af710bc884e1c87a74fcf3cffcb882024-04-18T14:11:52ZengThe UnionPublic Health Action2220-83722024-03-01141141910.5588/pha.23.00224Point-of-care diagnostics for sexually transmitted infections among migrants in GreeceC. Tsorou0A. Williams1W. van den Boogaard2N. Staderini3E. Repetto4A. Terzidis5E. Pikoulis6Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Operational Centre Geneva, Mission Greece, AthensMSF, Luxembourg Operational Research (LuxOR) Unit, Operational Centre Brussels, BrusselsMSF, Luxembourg Operational Research (LuxOR) Unit, Operational Centre Brussels, BrusselsMSF, Operational Centre Geneva Medical Department, Geneva, SwitzerlandMSF, Operational Centre Geneva Medical Department, Geneva, SwitzerlandDisaster Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GreeceDisaster Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GreeceSETTING: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can impact individuals of any demographic. The most common pathogens causing STIs are Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhea and Trichomonas vaginalis; these can be treated with specific antibiotics. OBJECTIVE: To compare the GeneXpert CT/NG test-and-treat algorithm to the syndromic approach algorithm and their impact on antibiotic prescription for gonorrhoea and chlamydia STIs. DESIGN: A retrospective observational study on women aged ≥18 years who accessed the Médecins Sans Frontières Day Care Centre in Athens with complaints related to urogenital infections between January 2021 and March 2022. Women with abnormal vaginal discharge, excluding clinically diagnosed candidiasis, were eligible for Xpert CT/NG testing. RESULTS: Of the 450 women who accessed care, 84 were eligible for Xpert CT/NG testing, and only one was positive for chlamydia, therefore resulting in saving 81 doses of ceftriaxone and azithromycin, and 19 doses of metronidazole. The cost of Xpert CT/NG testing, including treatment was €4,606.37, while full antibiotic treatment would have costed €536.76. CONCLUSION: The overall cost of the Xpert CT/NG test-and-treat algorithm was higher than the syndromic approach. However, quality of care should be weighed against the potential benefits of testing and syndromic treatment to determine the best option for each patient; we therefore advocate for decreasing the costs.https://doi.org/10.5588/pha.23.0022genexpert ct/ng testchlamydia trachomatisneisseria gonorrhoeaeantimicrobial resistancesort itstructured operational research and training initiative |
| spellingShingle | C. Tsorou A. Williams W. van den Boogaard N. Staderini E. Repetto A. Terzidis E. Pikoulis Point-of-care diagnostics for sexually transmitted infections among migrants in Greece Public Health Action genexpert ct/ng test chlamydia trachomatis neisseria gonorrhoeae antimicrobial resistance sort it structured operational research and training initiative |
| title | Point-of-care diagnostics for sexually transmitted infections among migrants in Greece |
| title_full | Point-of-care diagnostics for sexually transmitted infections among migrants in Greece |
| title_fullStr | Point-of-care diagnostics for sexually transmitted infections among migrants in Greece |
| title_full_unstemmed | Point-of-care diagnostics for sexually transmitted infections among migrants in Greece |
| title_short | Point-of-care diagnostics for sexually transmitted infections among migrants in Greece |
| title_sort | point of care diagnostics for sexually transmitted infections among migrants in greece |
| topic | genexpert ct/ng test chlamydia trachomatis neisseria gonorrhoeae antimicrobial resistance sort it structured operational research and training initiative |
| url | https://doi.org/10.5588/pha.23.0022 |
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