Recurrent gonorrhoea in South Australia, 1987–2003
Katina D’Onise A and Russell Waddell A BA Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: rwaddell@mail.rah.sa.gov.au
Sexual Health 3(3) 197-198 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH06006
Submitted: 2 February 2006 Accepted: 25 April 2006 Published: 29 August 2006
Abstract
In Australia, it is unclear if individuals are being recurrently infected with gonorrhoea, a proxy for identifying core groups. We reviewed all notified gonococcal (GC) infections in South Australia between 1987 and 2003. A case of repeated GC infection is one in which at least one further episode of GC infection occurred after 30 days and within 365 days of the first infection. There were 253 recurrent infections (7.26%) from 238 individuals. Men who have sex with men (MSM) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (ATSI) were significantly more likely to be recurrently infected with gonorrhoea than the rest of the South Australian population. This method of identifying individuals who have recurrent gonococcal infections can be used to target more frequent screening for individuals in a population who are more likely to be a part of the core group.
Acknowledgements
Work was completed while employed by the Royal Adelaide Hospital. No specific additional funding was required. The authors thank Tess Davey for her contribution to the paper.
[1]
[2] Yorke JA, Hethcote HW, Nold A. Dynamics and control of the transmission of gonorrheae. Sex Transm Dis 1978; 5 51–6.
| PubMed |
[3] Aral SO. Behavioural aspects of sexually transmitted diseases: core groups and bridge populations. Sex Transm Dis 2000; 27 327–8.
| PubMed |
[4] Gunn RA, Fitzgerald SBA, Aral SO. Sexually transmitted disease clinic clients at risk for subsequent gonorrhoea and chlamydia infections: possible “core” transmitters. Sex Transm Dis 2000; 27 343–9.
| PubMed |
[5] Brunham RC. The concept of core and its relevance to the epidemiology and control of sexually transmitted diseases. Sex Transm Dis 1991; 18 67–8.
| PubMed |
[6] Brunham RC. Core group theory: a central concept in STD epidemiology. Venereology 1997; 10 34–9.
[7] Richert CA, Peterman TA, Zaidi AA, Ransom RL, Wroten JE, Witte JJ. A method for identifying persons at high risk for sexually transmitted infections: opportunity for targeting intervention. Am J Public Health 1993; 83 520–4.
| PubMed |
[8] Gunn RA, Maroufi A, Fox KK, Berman SM. Surveillance for repeat gonorrhoea infection, San Diego, California, 1995–2001. Sex Transm Dis 2004; 31 373–9.
| PubMed |
