Corsi precongressuali

Genetic characterisation of viral genomes responsible for epidemic/pandemic episodes has been proven to be a powerful tool to understand outbreak transmission dynamics, spill-over events and to screen the mutations that potentially have an impact on transmissibility, pathogenicity and diagnostics. Sequence data can afford to monitor viral evolution and to timely identify potential markers of increased transmissibility, severity of disease or altered antigenicity. In addition, as the epidemic/pandemic evolves, these data become increasingly important in order to verify the match of the circulating variants with the response to vaccines and the possible emergence of antiviral resistance. By combining information of virus characteristics with clinical and epidemiological data, it is possible to plain public health interventions and to make outbreak control decisions.

The first form of treatment for HIV is prevention. The concept of prevention includes the broader concept of an individual's sexual health. Science is making advances toward the goal of preventing HIV and therefore most sexually transmitted infections. The rationale for this course is to investigate the concept of sexual health particularly in " neglected" populations with limited access to health care systems, such as the migrant population. Secondly, scientific advances in HIV prevention will be analyzed with a focus on new strategies for pre-exposure prophylaxis and ongoing trials for an HIV vaccine. Vaccine trials have posed a new key concept, represented by the management of the in-trial patient, the sexually transmitted diseases that occur during the trial and the management of VISP (vaccine-induced seropositivity). Another extremely important way of prevention is the HIV-patient on treatment, and it is crucial in this setting to hear the voice of HIV-positive patients on treatment and with undetectable viral load.

The introducing of long-acting therapy in the clinical practice of Infectious Disease Units will bring positive implications in the management of chronic patients with HIV and bacterial infections. It will be required to reshape the organization of the clinics and consequently a new nursing care model have to be redefined. After forty years of fighting against HIV, the principal aim is the development of antiretroviral therapies capable to reduce the disease progression and slow down clinical manifestations. The use of long-acting therapy can leading to an improvement in therapeutic adherence. This is fundamental in daily clinical practice, especially for the nursing figure who is personally involved not only in the administration of the drug but also in patient's information and education. Moreover, the use of long-acting therapy in bacterial infections, patients could be treated in outpatient regimens or at home with an improvement in therapeutic efficacy and in the reduction of hospitalizations and healthcare costs.