For full list of author affiliations and declarations see end of paperThe 'Australian Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Management Guidelines For Use In Primary Care' (www.sti.guidelines.org.au) provide evidence-based, up-to-date guidance targeted at use in primary care settings. A major review of the guidelines was undertaken in 2020-22. All content was reviewed and updated by a multi-disciplinary group of clinical and non-clinical experts, and assessed for appropriateness of recommendations for key affected populations and organisational and jurisdictional suitability. The guidelines are divided into six main sections: (1) standard asymptomatic check-up; (2) sexual history; (3) contact tracing; (4) STIs and infections associated with sex; (5) STI syndromes; and (6) populations and situations. This paper highlights important aspects of the guidelines and provides the rationale for significant changes made during this major review process.

There is very likely a large unrecognized problem of unchecked outpatient parenteral antibiotic administration in Asia. Developing comprehensive and systematized OPAT in Asia is needed as a priority in an environment in which the infectious diseases community is demanding broad stewardship approaches. There are nonetheless challenges in establishing and sustaining OPAT programmes. Local champions and leverage off identified local incentives and needs are key to regional advancement.

An electronic survey was disseminated amongst infection control practitioners to investigate the variation in practices toward vancomycin resistant enterococci. There were 235 analysable responses, mostly from doctors, in 48 countries. The survey considered active surveillance, in-hospital precautions and tagging and untagging processes. There was a great variation in responses between and within countries highlighting a gap in guidance for practitioners on which to base institutional policy.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13756-016-0140-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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