Developing evidence-based guidelines for the management of sexually transmitted diseases in former Soviet Union countries.

The countries of the former Soviet Union (FSU) are experiencing overlapping, interrelated and severe epidemics of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), HIV and intravenous drug use. There are reasons to believe that better control of STD in these countries will contribute to the amelioration of these problems. A project was carried out by IUSTI-Europe and World Health Organisation-Europe to facilitate the production of evidence-based management guidelines in the local language in each of five FSU countries. The goals of the project were achieved, although the challenge remains to be faced to ensure the implementation of the recommendations of the guidelines into routine clinical practice in those countries.