At the Federico II Hospital Azianda, the Outpatient Clinic for Traveler's Medicine.

Passport, suitcase and desire to discover new places are not enough to experience a safe trip. The perfect traveler's kit cannot lack awareness and prevention. Thus, at the UOC of Infectious Diseases of the Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Federico II theTraveler's Medicine Outpatient Clinic was born, a new service designed both for those who are planning a trip to exotic countries and for those who return with the suspicion of having contracted a disease during their stay abroad.

"Going on a trip, whether for pleasure, work or study, also means preparing to protect one's health so that one can fully enjoy the time spent abroad," explains Professor Ivan Gentile, director of the Infectious Diseases Complex Operating Unit.

The outpatient clinic (building 18, ground floor) operates every Wednesday afternoon, and the visit can be booked through the CUP, the Campania in Salute app or Pharmacies in the region, with a referral for "infectious disease first access visit" indicating the diagnostic question and code V70.5 - Health examination of defined population groups.

Specialists from the UOC of Infectious Diseases will offer a personalized infectious risk assessment, taking into account the destination, duration of travel and individual clinical conditions, both physiological and pathological. Guidance will be provided on vaccinations, pharmacological and nonpharmacological prophylaxis, which are essential for safely dealing with areas of the world where some infectious diseases are still prevalent.

"The outpatient clinic will also care for travelers who, upon return, present symptoms or suspect that they have contracted an infection. The expertise of specialists in tropical and infectious diseases will enable rapid and targeted evaluation," Professor Gentile continues. Special attention will be paid to the most vulnerable people, such as pregnant women, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals, who need specific prevention programs and close monitoring. In addition, the activity will be carried out in synergy with the vaccine point dedicated to patients afferent to the AOU Federico II, already active at the UOC of Infectious Diseases.

"With the activation of the Traveler's Medicine Outpatient Clinic, the Federico II University Hospital testifies to its constant commitment to combining care, research and innovation, offering citizens concrete tools to travel in serenity and safety. Travel today is an increasingly frequent experience, taking citizens and students to all parts of the world: accompanying these journeys with adequate protective measures means not only ensuring individual safety, but also contributing to the protection of the community and public health," the words of AOU Federico II General Director Elvira Bianco.