P248 Genital warts and treatment options: clinical audit

Abstract

IntroductionGenital warts are a common presenting condition in sexual health clinics. There are different treatment options available within BASHH guidelines depending on the size and location of warts. Home treatment reduces follow up clinic attendance.MethodWe randomly selected 30 patients attending our integrated sexual health service with new genital warts and audited their management against local guidance that home treatment with Imiquimod should be used first line for 4 weeks, unless contraindicated.ResultsOf the 30 patients, 18 were male and 12 were female. 14/30 were prescribed Imiquimod only. 7 patients had Cryotherapy only and 9 were also given cryotherapy before Imiquimod. 9/11 who received cryotherapy requested this treatment. 6/11 had documented reasons why it was deemed appropriate to have cryotherapy (unable to apply cream themselves, site of lesion). Interestingly, all 9/9(100%) who had received combination treatment reported clinical resolution within 4 weeks. 6/7(86%) who had cryotherapy only clinically resolved after 3 consecutive applications. 11/14(79%) treated with Imiquimod only resolved within 4 weeks, one deferred. 11/19(58%) treated with Imiquimod experienced side effects and five patients (5/11) sought medical advice. There were no reported complications following cryotherapy application.DiscussionDespite imiquimod being the recommended first line initial treatment for genital warts in our service, some patients received cryotherapy treatment in isolation or a combination of imiquimod and cryotherapy. The patients receiving cryotherapy were likely to have requested this treatment and had less side effects. All patients who received imiquimod and cryotherapy had resolution of genital warts in four weeks.