INTRODUCTION

These guidelines were first published in 1999. This 10th edition (2024) has been reviewed by:

Dr Anne Robertson, Consultant Sexual Health Physician and Gynecologist.

Dr Heather Young, Sexual Health Physician.

Dr Dean Ruske - MBChB FRACS, ORL Head and Neck Surgery Consultant.

Dr Silvana Campanella, Paediatrician, Te Puaruruhau.

Dr Ron Jones.

Katie McCullough, Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Lead, STIEF.

Edited by Nicola Ryan.


1st Edition            1999

2nd Edition         2001

3rd Edition          2002

4th Edition          2004

5th Edition          2007

6th Edition          2010

7th Edition          2013

8th Edition          2015

9th Edition          2017

10th Edition         2024


Sexually Transmitted Infections Education Foundation Aotearoa


Promoting optimal sexual health outcomes for all peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand.

E whakatairanga ana i ngā putanga hauora onioni papai mō ngā iwi katoa o Aotearoa.


Our resources:

New Zealand HPV Project: www.hpv.org.nz

New Zealand Herpes Foundation: www.herpes.org.nz

Just the Facts: www.justthefacts.co.nz

HPV and Herpes Helpline - 0508 11 12 13 from a landline or 09 433 6526 from a mobile

Guidelines for the Management of Genital Herpes in Aotearoa New Zealand: www.guidelines.stief.org.nz 

Email: info@stief.org.nz


Other useful resources:

New Zealand Sexual Health Society (NZSHS) resources: Comprehensive STI Management Guidelines and Patient Information handouts are available on www.nzshs.org/guidelines

National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) resources on HPV testing/screening: https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/health-services-and-programmes/ncsp-hpv-screening/understand-hpv-primary-screening/

World Health Organisation resources on HPV, related cancer and vaccines: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/human-papilloma-virus-and-cancer

https://www.who.int/teams/health-product-policy-and-standards/standards-and-specifications/vaccine-standardization/human-papillomavirus

Centre for disease control resources on HPV treatment guidelines: 

https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/hpv.htm


How to cite this document: 

Sexually Transmitted Infections Education Foundation. Guideline for the Management of Genital, Anal and Throat HPV Infection in Aotearoa New Zealand: 10th Edition. 2024. Available at: https://guidelines.stief.org.nz/hpv


Introduction


The Aotearoa New Zealand HPV guidelines were first developed in 1999. The 2024 (10th) edition has been updated to reference changes to the National Cervical Screening Programme and advances in the management of anal cancer pre-cursors. In addition, the different guideline chapters are now presented as individual documents to improve accessibility.


The authors and review team of these guideline documents includes representation from patients, and medical and nursing disciplines involved in the management of people with anogenital HPV and/or genital warts. Contemporary international literature has been evaluated to develop best practice regarding the diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of patients with HPV infection/genital warts and their sexual partners in Aotearoa New Zealand. The recommendations are based on strong evidence in the literature or reasonable supposition and expert opinion.


The information contained here is accurate at the time of publication.


The recommendations made in the guidelines have been rated using the following evidence-based categories:


Grade A: Very strong evidence
One or more properly randomised controlled clinical trials.


Grade B: Fairly strong evidence
One or more well-designed observational studies (i.e. non-randomised clinical trial, cohort, case control or time series study, or uncontrolled experimental trials).


Grade C: Weak evidence or firmly held opinion
Opinions of respected authorities that were based on clinical experience, descriptive studies, and/or reports of expert committees.


What’s new in 2024?


  • The National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) has changed from a cytology-based to primary HPV screening programme. Therefore, rather than including a chapter on cervical screening, we recommend visiting the full NCSP Guidelines.
  • The World Health Organization has adopted a strategy for cervical cancer elimination as a public health problem through optimal HPV vaccination and cervical screening.
  • There is an increased focus on the prevention of anal cancer following the publication of the ANCHOR study, which showed that treatment of anal cancer precursors reduces the incidence of anal cancer in those at high risk of invasive disease. HPV-related anal cancer incidence has been increasing, and is highest in HIV-positive MSM, women with a history of vulvar cancers or pre-cancers, and people with immunosuppression (Clifford et al, Int J Cancer, 2021: 148:38-47).
  • Persistent HPV 16/18 infection has been associated with preterm birth. HPV immunisation has the potential to reduce the incidence of preterm birth.
  • A recent review of the evidence for sexual transmission of clinical HPV in children has shown that there is no cut-off age to delineate between vertical versus horizontal transmission, and the possibility of sexual abuse needs to be considered in all children with anogenital warts.


Glossary of key terms and abbreviations


AIN anal intraepithelial neoplasia

AIS adenocarcinoma in situ

ASC-H atypical squamous cells – a High-grade lesion cannot be excluded

ASC-US atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance

CIN 1, 2 or 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (1 = low grade, 2 or 3 = high grade)

HPV human papillomavirus

hrHPV high-risk human papillomavirus

HSIL high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion

LBC liquid-based cytology

lrHPV low-risk human papillomavirus

LSIL low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion

MSM men who have sex with men

NCSP National Cervical Screening Programme

PCR polymerase chain reaction amplification

PIN penile intraepithelial neoplasia

RRP recurrent respiratory papillomatosis

SCC squamous cell carcinoma

SIL squamous intraepithelial lesion

STI sexually transmitted infection

TCA trichlorocetic acid

VIN vulval intraepithelial neoplasia

VLP virus-like particle


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