10 NEWS
10 NEWS
4 AUGUST 2023 ausdoc . com . au
STI clinics ‘ struggling to keep up ’
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AAP A LEADING sexual health specialist is |
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“ We are seeing more and more people coming to us who we sim- |
trial of two custom-built STI test vending machines that will travel across |
A common theory behind rising STIs was that it was easier for people |
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trialling the use of vending machines |
ply cannot see ,” said Melbourne Sex- |
Victoria to improve access for tests in |
to meet new partners via social media . |
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to dispense STI tests , warning that |
ual Health Centre director Professor |
regional areas . |
However , Dr Barber was concerned |
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infections are rising because of the |
Christopher Fairley . |
Patients can access a test kit within |
that those in their 50s and 60s who |
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“ vicious cycle ” of clinics struggling to |
He said the biggest contributor was |
60-90 seconds and send off their spec- |
had casual sex may feel embarrassed |
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meet increasing demand . |
patients being unable to access treat- |
imens to the clinic for testing . |
discussing it with their doctor or were |
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Cases dropped during the COVID- |
ment at the start of their illness , so |
Dr Matthew Barber , a GP from the |
not aware they needed to get tested . |
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19 pandemic . But in the first six |
they remained infectious for longer . |
Stonewall Medical Centre in Brisbane , |
Professor Fairley added that , while |
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months of this year , more than |
“ It is a vicious cycle because , if |
said his clinic had also been struggling |
the success of controlling HIV infec- |
Professor Christopher Fairley . |
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80,400 STI cases were reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System — up 23 % on the first half of 2022 . |
there are more cases next year than [ there ] were this year , the services will struggle even more ,” he said .
His centre is involved in a 12-month
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to keep up with the need for sexual health screening .
“ We have just put on a second doctor for that clinic ,” Dr Barber said .
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tion had been magnificent , the overall situation for STIs was a public policy failure and more government funding for services was needed . |
PAXLOVID has provisional approval for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19 ) in adults 18 years of age and older , who do not require initiation of supplemental oxygen due to COVID-19 and are at increased risk of progression to hospitalisation or death . 1
Before initiating PAXLOVID , patients will need to withhold treatment with any contraindicated medications where it is clinically appropriate to do so , and observe an appropriate washout period . 1
Standard dose of Paxlovid is 300 mg nirmatrelvir and 100 mg ritonavir tablets taken together orally every 12 hours for 5 days . Reduce dose to nirmatrelvir / ritonavir 150 mg / 100 mg every 12 hours for 5 days for patient with moderate renal impairment ( eGFR ≥30 to < 60 mL / min / 1.73m 2 ). 1
PBS information : Authority Required ( STREAMLINED ). Category : GENERAL - General Schedule ( Code GE ). For verified SARS-CoV-2 infection . Treatment must be initiated within 5 days of symptom onset . Refer to PBS Schedule for full authority information .
Reference : 1 . PAXLOVID Product Information .
© 2023 . Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd . Sydney , Australia . All rights reserved . This information is intended only for healthcare professionals . www . pfizer . com . au . Medical Information : 1800 675 229 . www . pfizermedicalinformation . com . au . PP-PAX-AUS-0580 . 07 / 23 . PFIZ4881 .
Gandhi MacIntyre PBS eligible ≥ 70 year old no risk factors required
I ’ M PRO FIGHTING COVID-19 I ’ M ANTI-VIRAL
BEFORE PRESCRIBING , PLEASE REVIEW FULL PRODUCT INFORMATION AVAILABLE BY SCANNING THE QR CODE OR VISITING https :// www . pfi . sr / paxlovid-pi
Warning : Nirmatrelvir with ritonavir has significant drug-drug interactions . Prescribers and dispensers should carefully review a patient ’ s concomitant medications .
This medicinal product is subject to additional monitoring in Australia . This will allow quick identification of new safety information . Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse events at www . tga . gov . au / reporting-problems .
Alternatively , any adverse events which are experienced with PAXLOVID can be reported to Pfizer on 1800 675 229 or by email to AUS . AEReporting @ pfizer . com
Outcry over end of analgesic
Sarah Simpkins DOCTORS are preparing to lose access to liquid morphine , with the only brand registered in Australia , Ordine , to be withdrawn from sale early next year .
Drug sponsor Mundipharma says its local manufacturer is ending production and that it is not commercially viable to find another .
It will stop distributing the analgesic in Australia from the end of January 2024 , and wholesalers are expected to run out of stock by April .
Melbourne paediatric palliative care specialist Dr Bronwyn Sacks said the drug was used every day by doctors in her field .
“ Some of the children we look after have a short life , and they need Ordine towards the end of their life to be comfortable and to manage pain or breathing difficulty ,” she told Australian Doctor .
“ But a significant number live for months or years with pain or breathing difficulties .
“ They need Ordine every day just to be comfortable and to manage day-to-day functions .”
Dr Sacks , from the Royal Children ’ s Hospital , said liquid analgesics were important for children because they allowed doctors to finely adjust the dosing . Yet the liquid morphine alternative , hydromorphone , was withdrawn from the Australian market in 2021 .
“ For kids with cancer — about 30 % of our group — they tend to use it as they are getting sicker but still wanting to be out and about at school , functions or sport activities ,” Dr Sacks said .
“ It allows them to live their lives while they can , not being tied to a hospital with IV medications .”
The TGA said it was investigating overseas-registered alternatives . See Letters , page 15