Murray PHN worked together with Health and Human Services and Victorian PHN partners, on behalf of the Victorian HIV and Hepatitis Integrated Training and Learning program, to create state-wide sexually transmitted infection pathways.
The pathways are for GPs, doctors in local hospitals, nurses, pharmacists and allied health staff to access and aim to work towards reducing the transmission, morbidity and mortality caused by STIs, including addressing the personal and social impacts. Specifically they work to:
- Achieve and maintain high levels of HPV vaccination
- Reduce the incidence of STI
- Improve knowledge and safe behaviours associated with the transmission of STI
- Increase testing among priority populations
- Increase appropriate management and reduce associated morbidity
- Eliminate the negative impact of stigma, discrimination and legal and human rights issues on people's health.
The STI pathways that have been localised to our region and the state of Victoria, include:
- Gonorrhoea
- Syphilis
- Chlamydia
- Sexual Health Checks
- Sexual Health Services
- Urgent or Routine Infectious Diseases Referral
- Trichomoniasis
- Epididymo-orchitis
- Herpes Simplex Virus
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- HIV - Diagnosis and Initial Management
- HIV - Ongoing Management
- HIV Treatment and Support Services
- HIV - Post-exposure Prophylaxis
- HIV - Pre-exposure Prophylaxis
Other sexual HealthPathways include:
- Abnormal Vaginal Discharge
- Genital Lumps Including Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
- Contact tracing
- Vulvodynia
Note that you must be registered and logged in to access the direct pathways links above. Health professionals in our region can get free access here.
Murray PHN's former Clinical Editor Dr Una Kennedy led the STI pathway development, in conjunction with infectious diseases specialists, sexual health nurses and groups that supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Aids, LGBTQI+ and refugee communities.
Una is a GP who specialises in women's, sexual and reproductive health.
"Pathways provide rapid access to concise, accurate, localised information. They're not a substitute for a text book but aim to be more of a memory aid, used in the clinical setting or during a consultation."