Syphilis: Advanced Webinar for Primary Care | North Western Melbourne

This course builds on VHHITAL’s STI Essentials course and provides the skills and resources required for primary health care practitioners to confidently implement guideline-based management of patients diagnosed with syphilis and to improve patient outcomes.

Victoria has seen a 476% increase in Syphilis cases since 2010, with a record 1671 cases reported in 2019.  Of strong concern is the re-emergence of congenital syphilis since 2017, despite no cases reported between 2004 and 2016.  The outer north western suburbs of Melbourne have emerged as a hotspot for infections in heterosexuals of reproductive age.  This course builds on VHHITAL’s STI Essentials course and provides the skills and resources required for primary health care practitioners to confidently implement guideline-based management of patients diagnosed with syphilis and to improve patient outcomes. Course numbers will be limited to maximise participation in the case study discussions.  Referral of complex cases and other supports from the newly developed sexual health sentinel sites in Hillside and Tarneit will be highlighted.

Presenter & Facilitator: Dr Melanie Bissessor, Sexual Health Physician - Melbourne Sexual Health Centre

Learning Methods: Presentation, Case Discussion, Q&A.

Continuing Professional Development: 4 x RACGP CPD Activity / 2 x ACRRM PDP points. All participants will receive a certificate of attendance.

Learning outcomes:

• Reinforce that sexual health is everyday routine business for primary care.
• Describe the clinical presentation of primary, secondary and latent syphilis.
• Correctly perform testing for syphilis.
• Implement guideline-based management of patients diagnosed with syphilis.
• Recap contact tracing and its key role in managing STIs.
• Apply learning in case study discussions.