[Survival in sexually transmitted diseases and HIV infection. Methodology and data flow]

Epidemiological surveillance systems are an integral part of programmes geared towards disease control and therapy especially programmes for infectious diseases. In particular, the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data on the spread of sexually transmitted diseases provide the foundation for prevention and control programmes. During the last decade, the lack of data about the diffusion of the emerging STD, such as genital herpes, genital warts and non gonococcal genital infections, has conducted in Italy to set up a STD Surveillance System based on the reporting of cases from selected clinical sites. This report reviews the general principles and methods to be used in setting up of Italian STD Surveillance Project.