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Biomedical subjects

P H Lyttle

Publications and source records attributed to P H Lyttle.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Hepatitis C virus seroprevalence in patients attending a sexual health centre.

AIM: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in patients attending the Christchurch sexual health centre. METHODS: Anonymised unlinked serum specimens from 362 patients sequentially attending the sexual health centre were obtained and tested for HCV antibody using the second generation enzyme immunoassay kit (Abbott). Antibody positive samples were assayed for virus by amplification of hepatitis C ribonucleic acid (RNA). RESULTS: Twelve patients (3.3%) were seropositive and 10 samples were also positive for virus RNA (2.7%). In 50% of cases the patients had no discernible risk factors other than unprotected sexual intercourse. An overall serum prevalence of 22% (4/19) was noted within a sub population who admitted to intravenous drug use. Ninety patients had, at the time of consultation, requested an antibody test for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). There were no antibodies to HIV detected in any of these patients nor any statistical difference in HCV antibody prevalence within this group. CONCLUSION: Hepatitis C is a common viral infection within the community. A significant percentage of patients who were anti HCV positive had no discernible risk factors other than sexual transmission which must be considered as a mode of transmission. We concur with the Department of Health guidelines emphasising the need for safer sex practices in a patient with a diagnosis of hepatitis C.

Community Health Centers↗
PubMed1994

Surveillance report: disease trends at New Zealand sexually transmitted disease clinics 1977-1993.

AIM: To document trends in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) recorded by New Zealand STD Clinics from 1977-1993. METHODS: Clinic disease figures have been recorded since clinics commenced in the 1920s and were recorded in a comprehensive format from the 1970s. The New Zealand Venereological Society has collated these data since 1986. RESULTS: The most common STDs in New Zealand clinics are genital warts, non-specific genital infections, chlamydia and genital herpes. Genital Wart infection has been the commonest STD diagnosed in clinics since 1988 and occurred in 17.9% of new patients in 1993. Non Specific Genital Infections were the commonest diagnosis from 1977 to 1988 affecting 17.5% of new patients in 1993. Chlamydia has shown a fall since the mid 1980s diagnosed in 5.4% of new patients in 1993 compared with 14.6% in 1986. Gonorrhoea incidence has fallen steadily since 1975 affecting only 1.1% new patients in 1993. Genital Herpes numbers tripled from 1977 to 1993 and 54% are primary cases. HIV Disease has increased clinic workload greatly with screening and counselling conducted in 25% of new patients in 1993. HIV disease was diagnosed or managed in 0.2% new clinic patients (49 cases). Syphilis has remained at a low incidence in New Zealand diagnosed in 0.3% new patients in 1993. CONCLUSION: Attendance for the viral diseases, HIV disease, genital warts and genital herpes is increasing while for the bacterial diseases, gonorrhoea and chlamydia is decreasing. The rise in disease numbers since 1990 may be due to meeting service needs rather than a true rise in disease incidence. STD surveillance in New Zealand is improving with new reporting systems being developed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Unlinked anonymous monitoring of HIV prevalence at sexually transmitted disease clinics.

AIM: To determine the prevalence of HIV infection among patients attending the four sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics in two metropolitan areas of New Zealand. METHODS: The population studied comprised everyone who attended between August 1991 and August 1992 because of concern about a possible new episode of an STD and who had a blood specimen taken for hepatitis B (or syphilis) serology. The study involved unlinked anonymous testing of left-over blood specimens, following ethical guidelines that have been proposed internationally. RESULTS: Among 8478 specimens tested, 23 (2.7 per 1000) were found to be HIV positive. The seroprevalence rates per 1000 among women, heterosexual men, and homosexual or bisexual men were 1.1, 1.3, and 44, respectively. All but five of the infected people were either known to be HIV positive or had an identifiable test during their clinic attendance. CONCLUSIONS: The seroprevalence rates are similar to those reported from STD clinics in England, and suggest that heterosexual transmission of HIV infection has not yet been extensive in New Zealand.

Adolescent↗