EP275 - Development of a comprehensive pathway for condyloma acuminata at a tertiary government hospital in the Philippines

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Purpose/Background: Condyloma acuminata is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) globally. In the Philippines, its prevalence was estimated at 4.78% with a higher number observed among males. Nearly 70% of cases are newly diagnosed, resulting in significant healthcare resource costs related to work-up, treatment, and monitoring. The highest transmission rates occur among young, sexually-active adolescents and adults. Currently, there is no established management pathway for this condition in our hospital. No country guidelines exist as well. Therefore, it is essential to develop a management framework to reduce the potential severe impact of this infection on the healthcare system.

Methods/Interventions: Due to the absence of a structured system for tracking and monitoring condyloma acuminata, the actual number of infected patients remains unknown. A team of specialists, including colorectal surgeons, gynecologists, urologists, dermatologists, infectious diseases specialists, plastic surgeons, and pathologists from the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), a tertiary government hospital, formulated a treatment guideline based on recent evidence. Regular meetings were conducted to construct a hospital-wide pathway outlining the referral system and the collaborative management of patients seeking care for condyloma acuminata from various entry points in the hospital.

Results/Outcomes: This framework offers a systematic approach for physicians handling cases of condyloma acuminata. Pilot testing was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the method, aiming to ensure comprehensive care for patients with the infection. Feedback from healthcare providers on the initial implementation is pending. This would evaluate the efficiency of interdepartmental referrals and account for the number of patients that would be efficiently managed across all specialties.

Ultimately, this treatment pathway will be integrated into the sexual and gender health hub being developed at the hospital to tackle the increasing incidence of STIs.

Conclusion/Discussion: Constructing a management system for a widespread yet preventable disease should be one of the thrusts of any health institution to curtail healthcare cost and minimize patient burden. Our pathway may be adapted by other institutions or used as a template to create a pathway relevant to the practice in their area. Alongside the treatment of condyloma acuminata, incorporating preventive strategies into the framework is essential to minimize its long-term negative effects. Once fully implemented, this could be a tool to standardize care, improve patient outcomes, facilitate better communication among healthcare team members, streamline processes resulting in resource management, and track patient progress and outcomes. In addition, this could be a venue to gather information that could be used for future research and training models for healthcare professionals. A collaborative approach among the healthcare providers is crucial to achieving effective and efficient care.