The UKs pilot scheme offering free chlamydia testing in pharmacies is to be applauded but a number of issues need to be resolved if it is to be a success, concludes an editorial in this weeks issue of The Lancet.
Chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease. Recent reports suggest that more than 10 percent of Japanese teenagers are infected with chlamydia, that the incidence of chlamydia infection in UK men rose by around 15 percent between 2001 and 2002, and that the prevalence of chlamydia in black American women is over 13 percent. The UK Health Protection Agency has found that in 45 to 64 year old women, rates of chlamydial infection rose by 177 percent between 1995 and 2003.
Melanie Johnson, UK public health minister, announced last week a two-year pilot scheme to offer free Chlamydia trachomatis testing in pharmacies. Although limited to London and Cornwall initially, if successful the scheme would be extended to involve the whole of the UK. However, as independent health-care providers submit bids to provide the service, the broader issues involved in screening for chlamydia, and STIs in general, must be addressed, states the editorial.
The Lancet comments: Although pharmacists are experts in providing medicines and guidance about their use, will adequate training and staffing be available to explain the testing process and the meaning of the results, be they positive or negative? How will the testing process be linked to the provision of follow up for those testing positive whether or not they receive treatment? Who will provide the sexual contact tracing facilities for people with newly diagnosed sexual infections? Who will provide safe sex advice, and who will address the issues of testing for other STIs in an at risk population? These difficult and sensitive issues require careful consideration if the governments innovation is to be a success.
Source: The Lancet
How Contaminated Is Your Stretcher? The Hidden Risks on Hospital Wheels
July 3rd 2025Despite routine disinfection, hospital surfaces, such as stretchers, remain reservoirs for harmful microbes, according to several recent studies. From high-touch areas to damaged mattresses and the effectiveness of antimicrobial coatings, researchers continue to uncover persistent risks in environmental hygiene, highlighting the critical need for innovative, continuous disinfection strategies in health care settings.
Beyond the Surface: Rethinking Environmental Hygiene Validation at Exchange25
June 30th 2025Environmental hygiene is about more than just shiny surfaces. At Exchange25, infection prevention experts urged the field to look deeper, rethink blame, and validate cleaning efforts across the entire care environment, not just EVS tasks.
Getting Down and Dirty With PPE: Presentations at HSPA by Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski
June 26th 2025In the heart of the hospital, decontamination technicians tackle one of health care’s dirtiest—and most vital—jobs. At HSPA 2025, 6 packed workshops led by experts Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski spotlighted the crucial, often-overlooked art of PPE removal. The message was clear: proper doffing saves lives, starting with your own.