Point-of-care testing for sexually transmitted infections in low-resource settings.
Clinical and reference laboratories
Low-resource settings
Point-of-care tests
Public health
Sexually transmitted infections
Journal
Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
ISSN: 1469-0691
Titre abrégé: Clin Microbiol Infect
Pays: England
ID NLM: 9516420
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jul 2022
Jul 2022
Historique:
received:
15
02
2021
revised:
07
05
2021
accepted:
31
05
2021
pubmed:
13
6
2021
medline:
23
6
2022
entrez:
12
6
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Both the global incidence and the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to increase, affecting hundreds of millions of individuals, particularly in low-to middle-income countries. Although a definitive diagnosis is desirable to inform STI treatment, syndromic management is the most widely used strategy in resource-limited settings. With the development of point-of-care (POC) tests, it is important to discuss how laboratories will need to adapt to new training and supervisory roles in support of testing, which will largely be performed by peripheral clinical staff. To discuss potential applications of STI POC tests, how they could improve existing STI control strategies and the role of clinical and reference laboratories in support of initiatives to improve STI management and control activities. Narrative literature review and expert opinion. The paper outlines the current status of the STI epidemic worldwide and discusses the problems associated with current approaches to control these infections, particularly in low-resource settings. The roles of clinical and reference laboratories will need to change to provide support for POC and near-patient STI testing as these technologies are introduced into clinical as well as laboratory settings. Laboratories will be expected to play a leading role in the introduction and implementation of POC and near-patient STI testing. They will be required to facilitate training and provide technical and supervisory support to clinical staff on the use of these technologies to augment existing STI management and surveillance programmes. In order to provide quality service, they will need to develop, introduce and maintain sustainable local quality control and external quality assurance systems. Evidence from implementation research for introduction and scale up of STI POC tests in different STI epidemic and laboratory infrastructure settings is required.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Both the global incidence and the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to increase, affecting hundreds of millions of individuals, particularly in low-to middle-income countries. Although a definitive diagnosis is desirable to inform STI treatment, syndromic management is the most widely used strategy in resource-limited settings. With the development of point-of-care (POC) tests, it is important to discuss how laboratories will need to adapt to new training and supervisory roles in support of testing, which will largely be performed by peripheral clinical staff.
OBJECTIVES
OBJECTIVE
To discuss potential applications of STI POC tests, how they could improve existing STI control strategies and the role of clinical and reference laboratories in support of initiatives to improve STI management and control activities.
SOURCES
METHODS
Narrative literature review and expert opinion.
CONTENT
BACKGROUND
The paper outlines the current status of the STI epidemic worldwide and discusses the problems associated with current approaches to control these infections, particularly in low-resource settings. The roles of clinical and reference laboratories will need to change to provide support for POC and near-patient STI testing as these technologies are introduced into clinical as well as laboratory settings.
IMPLICATIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Laboratories will be expected to play a leading role in the introduction and implementation of POC and near-patient STI testing. They will be required to facilitate training and provide technical and supervisory support to clinical staff on the use of these technologies to augment existing STI management and surveillance programmes. In order to provide quality service, they will need to develop, introduce and maintain sustainable local quality control and external quality assurance systems. Evidence from implementation research for introduction and scale up of STI POC tests in different STI epidemic and laboratory infrastructure settings is required.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34118424
pii: S1198-743X(21)00304-9
doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2021.05.052
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Review
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
946-951Subventions
Organisme : World Health Organization
ID : 001
Pays : International
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021 World Health Organization. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.