News
STI concerns over Pap test changes
GPs will need to get creative about testing , says Dr Bateson .
For formula-fed babies
Our Careline team is on call for healthcare professionals and parents
Our dedicated team includes experienced Midwives , Nutritionists and Dietitians . Their experience and knowledge about early life nutrition is available for specialised , unbiased advice and one-to-one support .
1800 258 268
RADA ROUSE EARLY detection rates of STIs could slip with Australia ’ s imminent cervical screening changes unless new strategies are developed , says a reproductive expert .
Dr Deborah Bateson , medical director of Family Planning NSW , says GP reminder systems , greater utilisation of practice nurses and better access to online testing will be needed to engage young ,
Supports easy digestion1,2
Monday to Friday , from 6:30am – 5:00pm ( AEST ) sexually active women when they are no longer presenting for biennial Pap smear tests from the age of 18 .
In December , Australia will switch to HPV DNA testing from the age of 25 , with five-year test intervals .
Dr Bateson was commenting on a study that showed chlamydia testing rates dropped by 26 % in Canada , two years after it extended the screening interval from
• With a unique blend of patented prebiotics *
• Enriched with Omega-3 DHA † fish oil which supports brain and eye development 3
BREAST MILK IS BEST FOR BABIES : Professional advice should be followed before using an infant formula . Introducing partial bottle feeding could negatively affect breast feeding . Good maternal nutrition is important for breast feeding and reversing a decision not to breast feed may be difficult . Infant formula should be used as directed . Proper use of an infant formula is important to the health of the infant . Social and financial implications should be considered when selecting a method of feeding .
* Nutricia ’ s patented blend of prebiotic fibre = 90 % short chain Galacto-oligosaccharides ( scGOS ) from milk , 10 % long chain Polyfructose ( lc Polyfructose ) formerly known as Fructo-oligosaccharides ( lcFOS ) from chicory inulin . † DHA = Docosahexaenoic Acid . References : 1 . Moro G et al . J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2002 ; 34 ( 3 ): 291 – 295 . 2 . Costalos C et al . Early Hum Dev 2008 ; 84 : 45 – 49 . 3 . Koletzko B et al . J Perinat Med 2008 ; 36:5 – 14 .
FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS ONLY
Nutricia Australia Pty Ltd , Level 4 Building D , 12 – 24 Talavera Road , Macquarie Park NSW 2113 . July 2017 . ANZ / KC / 16 / 0053a . 14340-AD . two years to three , and stopped screening women younger than 21 .
Dr Bateson said that in Australia , Pap smear visits had been useful for GPs to raise the issue of chlamydia screening , and “ creative thinking ” was now needed to empower young women who might be nervous or ashamed about STI tests .
“ When women present for contraception is another
careline @ karinourish . com . au www . mumstore . com . au
obvious time for GPs to add [ chlamydia testing ] into the conversation , but we are also moving to increased uptake of long-acting reversible contraceptives , so women won ’ t come back for three or five years ,” she told Australian Doctor .
A recent study from Tasmania found that the rate of annual chlamydia testing for sexually active people aged between 15 and 29 was estimated to be about 18 %. The recommendation is that everyone in the cohort should be tested annually . Rates were only slightly higher ( 20 %) for those aged between 15 and 24 .
Testing rates were higher for females than males ( 21 % vs 6 %), but positivity rates were higher for males than females ( 16 % vs 10 %). Annals of Family Medicine 2017 ; online .
Floaters fixed by lasers
JOCELYN WRIGHT LASER treatment may help dispel vitreous floaters in the ageing eye but more work is needed to rule out potentially catastrophic adverse effects , ophthalmologists say .
More than half of 36 people who underwent laser vitreolysis for the collagen-like specks showed significant improvement or resolution of symptoms after a single treatment , a US study found .
Comparatively , little improvement was seen in a control cohort of 16 people who received sham laser vitreolysis , found the trial of people with Weiss ring-related vitreous floaters .
“ The current study revealed modest improvement in floater symptoms with a single laser session by postoperative month six … supporting the efficacy of ... vitreolysis ,” the researchers concluded .
But an accompanying commentary sounded a note of caution over laser treatment for what is essentially a bothersome condition , noting that it could potentially lead to serious ocular complications .
“ Our enthusiasm must be tempered by the fact that this study addressed only symptomatic Weiss rings and not floaters in general ,” it said .
The success of laser treatment depended on selecting low-risk patients whose opacities were not close to sensitive areas such as the lens or retina , wrote ophthalmologist Dr Jennifer Lim from the Illinois Eye And Ear Infirmary , Chicago .
The energy level of the laser was also crucial , with higher levels risking potential problems , particularly when there was vitreous haze that could scatter energy and cause damage , she concluded . “ Vaporisation ... is an alluring idea , [ but ] as with any new procedure , an open mind with a healthy dose of scepticism is necessary ,” she wrote . JAMA Ophthalmology 2017 ; online .
6 | Australian Doctor | 28 July 2017 www . australiandoctor . com . au