Tuesday, March 9, 2010: 10:45 AM
Dogwood B (M1) (Omni Hotel)
Rita Shahin, MD, MHSc, FRCPC, Toronto Public Health, Toronto, ON, Canada, Colin Lee, MD, MSc, CCFP(EM), FRCPC, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, Barrie, ON, Canada, Mary Gordon, MD, FRCPC, Sexual Health Clinic, Ottawa Public Health, Ottawa, ON, Canada, Karen Verhoeve, RN, BScN, MA, Public Health Department, Region of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada and Carol Woods, MScN, Sexual Health Program/Research, Program Evaluation, Epidemiology, Algoma Public Health, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada
Background: STI’s are an increasing public health concern in Ontario, Canada. In addressing this issue, public health uses multiple strategies from awareness and prevention, early detection and treatment, to case management and contact tracing as a method of case-finding. In 2006, the Ontario Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory (PIDAC) Committee identified the need for evidence-based best practice recommendations. A survey of Ontario public health units confirmed a need for best practice information regarding case management. The PIDAC STI working group, consisting of medical and field staff from Ontario health units, as well as a researcher, developed a best practices document focused on case management of persons diagnosed with STI’s and their contacts.
Objectives: To develop best practice recommendations for case management and contact tracing of reportable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Ontario.
Methods: This session focuses on the process undertaken to evaluate the written/grey literature, survey practitioners recognized for their expertise in the field, and develop key recommendations for Ontario health units.
Results: The Best Practices document, released in May 2009, outlines STI epidemiology in Ontario, the methods employed to review the literature and survey key informants, identifies best practices and makes recommendations for case and contact management practices, including counselling, repeat STIs, legal measures, third party reports, latent and immigration syphilis, patient delivered partner therapy and electronic/internet based contact tracing.
Conclusions: The document outlines 36 best practice recommendations for the case management and contact tracing of reportable STIs in Ontario.
Implications for Programs, Policy, and/or Research: The document will be of interest to other jurisdictions facing similar increases in STI epidemiology who wish to develop best practice recommendations for STI control.
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