Press Release No. 73/2022 Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI): The ISS Presents a New Prevention and Control Model

ISS, 24 October - A network of territorial peripheral centres (spoke centres) and reference centres with high quality multidisciplinary staff (hub centres) that provide affordable services and quick and easy access for patients and a widespread diffusion of prevention tools . This is the organizational model for the fight against sexually transmitted infections (STI) adopted for the Project coordinated by the ISS Department of Infectious Diseases entitled "Experimentation of new hospital-territory integrated organizational models for the prevention and control of STIs: subsidized diagnostic and care delivery process and targeted screening free of charge”, the results of which were presented during a conference held at the Institute.

“Sexually Transmitted Infections are widespread pathologies but, unfortunately, all too often diagnosis and treatment are belated and this favours their diffusion. Furthermore, as they involve a very private and intimate sphere of people's lives they deserve very special attention – stated Anna Teresa Palamara, director of the ISS Infectious Diseases Department. It is therefore essential to facilitate access to diagnosis and treatment by strengthening existing Centres or creating new ones to which patients can refer quickly and anonymously upon onset of the first symptoms".

The Project, carried out in compliance with the Ministry of Health and with the technical and financial support of the CCM (the Ministry’s Centre for Disease Prevention and Control), involved eight operating units which planned and tested out facilitated diagnostic and care delivery process for STIs across the national territory. The outcome of the Project was an innovative care delivery model and a series of actions to be put in place to improve the fight against these pathologies which, according to the WHO, account for one million new cases every year in the world and which are also reported to be on the rise n our Country.

• Develop a network with regional peripheral centres (spokes) (family doctor, family counselling, outpatient specialist) and reference centres with high multidisciplinary skills (hubs) (Dermatologist, Gynaecologist, Infectious Disease Specialist, Urologist, Andrologist, Paediatrician, Microbiologist, Psychologist, Nurse) and adequate communication-relational training.

• Guarantee facilitated access, visits and diagnostic investigations in a single session or in a short time, at a reduced cost (possibly free of charge for some services and/or for some population groups).

• Step up activities and outreach for the prevention of STIs (condoms, screening).

On the occasion of the conference, two short videos were presented: one provided details about the project and was addressed mainly to insiders, while the other was an informative video addressed to citizens providing information about STIs are and how to deal with them.

"It's time to draw up a national STI strategic plan - said the Project Manager Barbara Suligoi - and the experience of this Project can offer useful indications in this sense for a model that can stop the dispersion of individuals affected by STI across different healthcare settings and the lack of uniformity and appropriateness of diagnosis and care”.