TY - JOUR T1 - Is COVID-19 affecting the epidemiology of STIs? The experience of syphilis in Rome JF - Sexually Transmitted Infections JO - Sex Transm Infect SP - 78 LP - 78 DO - 10.1136/sextrans-2020-054543 VL - 97 IS - 1 AU - Alessandra Latini AU - Francesca Magri AU - Maria Gabriella Donà AU - Massimo Giuliani AU - Antonio Cristaudo AU - Mauro Zaccarelli Y1 - 2021/02/01 UR - http://sti.bmj.com/content/97/1/78.abstract N2 - Dear Editor,In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, on 9 March 2020, the Italian government announced a nationwide lockdown programme of social distancing, self-isolation for contacts and prohibition of public events. People with other medical needs were still able to attend hospital outpatient appointments provided they carried printed self-certification to explain the reason for the journey to an inspection by the police.Throughout the lockdown period, the STI/HIV Unit of the San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, the largest STI/HIV clinic in Rome, has remained open for emergencies, including STI testing for people with symptoms and for asymptomatic people at risk. Virtual consultations have also been activated.From the start of lockdown, we observed a reduction in STI diagnoses, particularly of early syphilis. In the whole of March 2020, we diagnosed 15 cases … ER -