HIV, STI, Viral Hepatitis, and Harm Reduction Digest
September 13, 2023
NACCHO News and Announcements
Congenital Syphilis and Perinatal HIV Compendium
NACCHO, NCSD, and NASTAD encourage you to submit your health department’s implemented activities to address congenital syphilis and/or perinatal HIV to the Congenital Syphilis and Perinatal HIV Compendium. The compendium has been developed to increase peer-to-peer collaboration and improve congenital syphilis and perinatal HIV prevention and control efforts.
You can also use it to look at what other jurisdictions have tried regarding congenital syphilis and perinatal HIV prevention and control as well as submit your own activities!
Identifying Promising Practices for Congenital Syphilis Prevention Project
NACCHO is excited to share a recent report on the “Identifying Promising Practices for Congenital Syphilis Prevention” project. This project launched in 2020 and provided funding to local health departments (LHDs) across the country to implement and evaluate new interventions to address rising congenital syphilis cases. Specifically, this funding was designed to support the implementation and evaluation of interventions that focused on one or more of the following areas of congenital syphilis prevention:
- Improving support for pregnant people with syphilis
- Improving support for pregnant people without syphilis
- Improving support for individuals with syphilis who could become pregnant but who are not currently pregnant
Also, feel free to add your congenital syphilis interventions/activities to NACCHO’s compendium so that other jurisdictions can learn about your efforts.
STI/HIV Training Modules for Pharmacists Available
HIV Testing for Non-Traditional SettingsPer the STI and HIV National Strategic Plans (2021-2025), pharmacists are included amongst non-traditional providers who are integral in supporting ongoing scale-up of HIV and STI screening and linkage to care. NACCHO collaborated with the National Network of STD Clinical Prevention Training Centers to develop a series of six 30-minute educational modules to orient pharmacists to sexual health topics. CE is available, and you can check them out here:
Module 1 - Intro and Sexual Health Discussions with Patients
This module discusses the role of the pharmacist in sexual health and STI management as well as communication strategies to obtain an accurate sexual history.
Module 2 - Creating an Environment of Equitable Care
This module discusses the concept of gender diversity, the needs of LGBTQ+ patients, medical mistrust and equity gaps, and unique aspects of STI care for minors.
Module 3 - STI Diagnosis and Testing
This module discusses diagnosis/testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis and how to collaborate with local health jurisdictions/health departments in patient care.
Module 4 - HIV Testing for Non-Traditional Settings
This module discusses testing for HIV in the pharmacy setting, health department reporting requirements, and the pharmacist’s role in supporting and connecting patients to HIV care.
Module 5 - STI Treatment
This module discusses treatment for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis, follow-up for patients diagnosed with these STIs, and the pharmacist’s role in caring for both the patient and their partner(s).
Module 6 - HIV PEP, PrEP, and Prevention
This module discusses HIV prevention strategies including, (post-exposure and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PEP and PrEP), HIV treatment, and key STI/HIV counseling messages for use in the pharmacy setting.
Please Complete our DIS Survey: Impact of DIS Funding Rescission on Local Health Departments
In recent weeks, local jurisdictions heard from CDC and/or state health departments that the Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) Workforce Development Funding will end December 31, 2023, two years earlier than anticipated. These COVID-STD funds, which were part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, were rescinded as part of the debt ceiling negotiations. These funds were originally planned to support years 4 and 5 of an investment in DIS at the state and local level. Through this survey, NACCHO would like to gather information on the impact of the rescission of the $400 million for DIS activities on disease intervention specialists (DIS) at local health departments. Specifically, NACCHO is interested in understanding how the law has impacted people with, or at risk for, STIs, the DIS workforce, and overall health department program planning and implementation. We appreciate your time and consideration with providing this information.
HIV, STI, & Hepatitis Resources and News
The Minnesota Center of Excellence in Newcomer Health is seeking input from health care providers and public health professionals who care for and support refugee and other newcomer populations nationwide. To ensure quality and equitable care across the country, we need to know the kind of support and education that would be helpful to your practice. Your thoughts and experience are very important to us. You should also know that we might share a summary of findings in a report or publication.
Note: For this survey, newcomer is defined as any recent arrival admitted with a humanitarian visa (i.e., refugee, asylee, humanitarian parolee, Trafficking visa (T visa), and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holder). “Other immigrant groups” is used as a term to describe all other types of immigrant entrants.
CDC’s Division of STD Prevention, Using Technology to Advance STI Prevention (UTASP) Group and the National Coalition of STD Directors are partnering to host the National Internet Partner Services (NIPS) Workgroup quarterly calls for technology-based partner services.
Their October 10th call will take place Tuesday, October 10, 2-3:30pm and will feature Mohammed Rahman, PhD, MBBS, MPH, Epidemiologist at the Behavioral Science and Epidemiology Branch at the CDC Division of STD Prevention on their NACCHO-funded “Virtual Partner Services Using a Video Application in Louisiana” pilot project.
Following that presentation will be a closer look at some of the ethical and legal considerations DIS should take into account with Ryan Cramer, JD, MPH, Public Health Analyst at the CDC Division of STD Prevention and Rachel Kachur, MPH, Health Scientist at CDC Division of STD Prevention.
Register here.
News to Note
No Deal in Sight for Global AIDS Program as Deadline Looms – Politico
In Move to Slash CDC Budget, House Republicans Target Major HIV Program – KFF Health News
Global Case Series Uncovers Mpox Resurgence among Previously Infected or Fully Vaccinated Individuals – News Medical
Upcoming Opportunities
2023 National Coalition for Sexual Health Annual Meeting
The National Coalition for Sexual Health 2023 Annual Meeting will take place on Thursday, September 14 from 12pm ET – 3:45pm ET. This year’s meeting will include two panels:
- Overcoming Ageism and Promoting Safe, Pleasurable Sex Lives & Relationships
- Understanding the Policy Landscape of What’s at Stake with Preventive Sexual Health Services
SEPTEMBER 26 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM PT
This webinar reviews the current recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the use of doxy-PEP. Topics will include the criteria to determine appropriate candidates for doxy-PEP therapy, strategies for effective doxy-PEP administration, and questions that remain to be answered in future studies on doxy-PEP in patients with HIV.
DoxyPEP Implementation – All Systems Go? Webinar
OCTOBER 5 9:00 AM ET
As we await official guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, please join The Choice Agenda (TCA) and NCSD for a U.S.- focused discussion on the roll out of Doxycycline as STI PEP.
Register Here.
